Walking is something that I have not done well during the year of 2021.

In fact, whenever the doctors ask me (and there have been several:  2 chiropractors, a physiologist, a general practitioner, and now a pain clinic specialist), I respond with my desire to walk pain-free. I am somewhat surprised myself how the pain in my lower back has plagued me since the end of 2020 and throughout the year 2021.  Since the onset of this ailment, I find that I stand in place more, lay prone on my back less, sit rather uncomfortably, and walk with somewhat of a “hitch in my step” as each step forward causes my body some discomfort.

Back in the summer while spending a Saturday afternoon at my sister and brother-in-law’s new home site, I was out front carrying some cardboard to the burn-pit when my brother-in-law needed something carried to him (down the lane).  I knew I was the one closest to him for the job, so I accepted the task and thought, “I’ll just jog down the lane to him.”  After three steps, I knew the truth:  I have lost my ability to jog, to run, or to even walk with any sort of speed.  

During my life, I have always been athletic, never hesitating to play a game (despite the name of the game) enjoying a life filled with movement, both walking & running.  From the time I was a child, we worked on the farm, growing our muscles as we grew our crops; thus, when I became a teen, I actually joined several sports: playing softball, then basketball, then running track and field, even continuing to play softball as an adult. Movement never seemed impossible.  In fact, the only reason I gave up playing the game of softball was due to the beautiful child God had placed inside my womb when I turned thirty-two.  At that moment, I knew I needed to stop (giving up the active lifestyle of sports) because of the beautiful child, the daughter, God had given to us to raise.

Time passed, and my active life resumed as my daughter, husband, and I continued to play, to tumble, and to enjoy moving, walking, and hiking, and running—That is until the spring of 2020 and early months of 2021. That’s when I noticed a change in my lower back, realizing that “stepping” was not comfortable any longer.

STEPPING & WALKING.

It’s such a simple concept.

Step Out with one leg (usually my left leg first), followed by stepping forward with the other leg (my right leg second) to complete one full step.  As long as a person continued this pattern, then distance could be covered, a certain stride could be maintained, movement was gained, a walk forward was stepped, and life could be lived.

Did we see those words?

Stepping.

Continuing to Move Forward.

Covering Distance.

Maintaining a Stride.

Moving & Gaining.

Walking & Living.

God’s Word speaks of walking but do not believe me; READ with me & SEE.

Walking in Relationship.  Stepping forward in faith, believing in God, seeing Him with all reverence due Him—Yes, most definitely, Salvation is the beginning of wisdom.  Thus, walking with Christ in relationship is good, is necessary for our soul because as we do, we receive our future and our hope (our assurance of our future in heaven). Our Life Will Not Be Cut Off at Our Death.  We will never be separated from Christ once we believe in Him by faith and accept the Salvation He offers.

How do we know this “walking,” this “relationship” will last into eternity?  Well, that’s an easy question to answer:  The Bible tells us so.

In God’s Word, we see an example of this teaching, this walking, this stepping forward in faith, then hope, this striding forward, this looking out toward the Master—toward Jesus.

Jesus Did All This.

Jesus Called Out To Peter.

Jesus Gave Peter Hope of Walking on the Water.

Jesus Did!

Jesus Calmed Peter’s fears (and the disciples’ fears) as they sat in the midst of the stormy night.

Jesus Commanded the Storms to Cease.

Jesus Did & Jesus Still Does.

Thank You Jesus for HOPE.

Thank You Jesus for Offering us Your Salvation, Your Assuring Hope, Your Firm Foundation.

Thank You for calming our fears, for helping us leave what we do not know about our future days—In Your hands.

Thank You for helping us Step Out of The Boat, to Step on the Water, & to Walk Forward—As We Keep Our Eyes on You.

Help us to Continually Keep Our Eyes Only On You—Even as we stand within this final day of the calendar year—On This Side of a Brand-New Year.

Thank You God for peace Only You Can Provide.

Thank You for showing us how to place our trust in Your guidance as You lead us, providing us STEPS to WALK.

Thank You for the confidence, for the expectation, for the courage to Step Out, day-by-day & moment-by-moment, Walking, even Jogging forward into the great plan You have for our lives.

Thank You Jesus for the Assurance We Can Experience As We Keep Our Eyes Upon You, Walking in Relationship With You.

Thus, on this final day of 2021, as we look with anticipation into the New Year, may we not make resolutions, but rather share one common goal—a new calendar of days, of a new year to live, as we WALK WITH YOU.

If our time on earth continues and we are even given the full 365 days to live, may we look forward into 2022, forward toward the life we will experience walking close beside our Savior—Jesus.

For me, one hope, one prayer is found in walking this new year without pain found in each step, maybe even striding, and (hopefully) even jogging or learning to sprint again as my steps become faster.

Today, I end my writing with this beautiful passage written by the Apostle Peter, who reminds us how we are to WALK with our LORD: