Fields United Methodist Church

Jesus Along the Way: Words of Hope and Grace.             By Pastor Tom Joyce

August 4, 2020

“A voice cries out: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”  Isaiah 40:3-5

Several years ago, Laurie and I ventured west along Route 40. We loved the trip but at times the road was obscured by both mountain and valley, clouds and night. I remember late one evening the clouds seemed to part and we could see for miles beyond the bank of clouds to a miraculous sunset. As I think about that time on the road, can’t help but think about Jesus; who is always on the road with us, even and especially now. In the midst of a pandemic that has made life a challenge, where the way is uncertain and our vision is blocked, God makes a way out of no-way, gives an opportunity for us to clear away all that hinders our view to experience the miraculous. What are the obstacles that prevent you from knowing the presence of Jesus along the way? What valleys need to be “lifted up,” and what “mountains” need to be “made low?” God, through Jesus Christ, is with you every step of the way, from the beginning of life’s journey to the end, then beyond the end to a new beginning; you are never alone the whole way. Yet we all need to be reminded of that fact once in a while. The Bible calls us to remember the goodness of God over 159 times, remember where you have been and how God showed up then and that God is here now. We need to keep reminding ourselves that Jesus has been on the journey with us and will continue to be, opening paths that would have been otherwise obscured by all the stuff of life. When the stress of life becomes one of those “mountains” that hinder your travel, remember Jesus, remember there is always hope because there is always grace, making the path straight and the direction certain. May your journey be paved with grace and hope, seeing the goodness of God with very step.

Grace and peace in abundance,

Rev. Tom Joyce, pastor

Fields United Methodist Church