Proverbs 3:17 “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace”
There is a favourite place I love to run in Scotland. It starts in a small car park, just off the main road, crossing an old single lane steep-back bridge over the railway. You would probably never go looking for a great run if you passed by. From the main road, it looked like the road goes in towards a scrapyard. I would park the car at the start of the small lane and there start my run.
Initially, my legs would feel tight and I would push myself a bit to find my rhythm and get my breathing up to about sixty-five per cent capacity. Sometimes this was the hardest part, making a start, feeling the roughness of my breathing and stubborn resistance in my legs. Pushing through I would start to feel the flow.
The lane soon morphs into a forest path, really a narrow overhung dirt track, trees crowding on both sides. I could see the patches of mist drifting slowly through the crowded trees higher up the mountain ahead. They call to me in their loneliness and beauty.
Onwards and upwards I go, pushing, slowly feeling the strains, enjoying the sense of being alive. The scent of cedar sap catches me off guard at times and thrills me. The colours and moody silence call to my inner man. My breathing, my internal ongoing conversation with God, my free running thoughts and dreams, the passing of well-remembered checkpoints. I love this path. Pushing on to the turning point at about the 30-minute mark, the energy levels surge about then, and I feel like I could run forever.
Now I am in the deeper forest running, the copper coloured Caledonian pines showing off their individual beauty, stunning, filling me with a sense of peace and hope. The path narrows and has steep climbs, muddy in places. No time to dream right now as it’s just hard work. I’m looking to push myself harder here as I follow along the side of a perfect forest river.
Whenever I can I look up and drink in the forest colours, small areas carpeted in violet-blue tiny flowers, glimpses of white and yellow, every shade of green and brown imaginable and the filtered sunlight through the overhead canopy adding the master’s touch.
I just run. In the trickier spots, I find my stride and enjoy the sense of risk and balance over uneven ground. I never want this to stop. My breathing is getting harder, the forest is drawing tighter and the path is getting narrower. I push and push. I sense more than seeing the finish line, and suddenly I am out of the forest, back at the lane near the car. Slowing down, steam rising from my beanie, I jog then slow to a walk.
Heading towards the railway line, I pass bramble bushes laden with black bursting berries. I lean over the gate at the side of the track and breathe. I love this moment. Feeling seeping back into leg muscles, breathing steadying backdown, and the joy of rest.
KNOWLEDGE
Wow, wow, wow! What is hidden in this short scripture? We are of course again linking back to verse 13, and touching on all that is available to us in our relationship with Christ, the seat of all wisdom. When our life is under constant tension, our responses, our choices and our actions lean into a direction of hope and trust, built on endless love. Every step we take is heading towards intimacy with our saviour.
In Psalm 84 the writer says “as they go through the Valley of Bacca (weeping), they make it a place of springs; the early rains also cover it with pools”. In the middle of our greatest challenges and trials, we see life flowing up from the inside, and provision raining down from the outside. There is no waiting, it’s already there, the struggle simply reveals what is already there.
Luke 2:52 says “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”. In the middle of the struggle, of lack, of long journeys on foot as a young boy, living in a family that was continually poor [artisans could only hope for a days wage – they had no land and so no real hope of increase], He knew long paths on well-trodden ways, literally, and the bible tells us that Jesus continued to increase.
He grew in favour with men and with God. What a powerful testimony for a young person to have. This is the hallmark of the Holy Spirit – in the toughest seasons, the most difficult experiences, the driest places, the place of little – we continue to increase. Every decision we make creates and enables peace – wellbeing. We can know wellbeing today – in our careers (even when the promotion doesn’t come through), in our social settings, financial decisions, physical conditions, and community interactions – we can know intimately and personally, – wellness.
UNDERSTANDING: Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word for “peace” is pronounced “salom” and has 237 mentions in the Old Testament. It is translated as, peace; favour; well; safety; health; friendship; and, prosperity. There is a sense for us in Proverbs 317 of contentment and wellbeing. If we live with wisdom we will only know contentment and wellbeing.
WISDOM: who are your travelling companions today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Harmony brings others together and each voice is heard, don’t delay when facing challenges, step in straight away.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [the way wisdom behaves under tension is delightful and sweet, her lifestyle is one of wellbeing, safety and wholeness.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to keep my eyes on you when my life is under tension. Thank you.
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There is nothing better than peace. Once you’ve experienced the opposite you will feel the same. Many people long for it but it seems to evade them as turmoil and dissension rule. Wisdom found in Christ is of course the key to this peace and the apostle Paul tells us in Phil. 4 that when we apply certain things to how we live (this is wisdom) the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!
Thank you Jesus!
Love the description ;of the path , the walk , the run, the beauty, the atmosphere, the joy, the nearness to the glory of God and the breath of pure air, the smell of scents , the breeze, the landscape of peace!
This reminds me of my childhood days where I grew up near the the river bank and the other side was a thick Forrest where the Elephants were .
The beauty of the Lord is displayed in all the nature!
God is displaying His wisdom and we are given the benefits of wisdom:long life,wealth,honor,and her path the peace.
Praise the Lord and His wisdom that’s imparted to us who believe!
I Pray that our eyes of understanding be enlarged!
Shalom!
“My breathing, my internal ongoing conversation with God, my free running thoughts and dreams, the passing of well remembered checkpoints.”
Beautifully written .
…..the struggle simply reveals what is already there.
Great point.
Difficult times can be very revealing on a personal level. This is a time when we are exposed to who we really are , what we really believe and who we ultimately put our trust in.
This is a beautiful piece of scripture and fills my inner being with confidence, joy and peace.
Thank you Pastor Allan for your ongoing insights.
Thank you for today’s message Pastor Allan Allan. I could visualise the beauty of your surrounds as you ran. Our focus on peace from today’s message is what is needed at such a season as now. I like the idea of finding our favorite space and focus only on God’s beautiful creation.
A beautiful, vivid description of the forest and all its beauty. God created a universe that is more beautiful than any painting an artist could paint. This story gives me a feeling of utter tranquility and inner peace.
This is a very apt message as we go through the horrors of 2020, reminding us that there was always “Another” in the fire and water, protecting us. And hope surges once again, reminding us to trust Him, find refuge in Him. We will reach this beautiful place and we will rest.
Thank you, Pastor Allan, for this message.
Very powerful words pastor and sooooo much to take in an digest, it’s seems that when I run, peace over takes me as we try to find our path in these difficult times that we all are going through, thank you 🙏🏿 for words, very inspiring pastor
Wow what an amazing run Pastor Allan – so exhilarating in God’s glorious creation!
In my times of challenge & trials I realise the only place to run to is Father God because He is my ultimate well of inner peace & well being. As I draw aside & wait upon the Lord & stop focusing on the problem a peace comes which almost makes me feel guilty in not reacting to the trial. It’s a peace that does bring pleasantness because it releases my soul from anxiety to enable me to trust & hope in laying down my burdens at the Cross & understanding Jesus came for this very reason. The wisdom of God reveals what I believe in times of challenge & how to find those paths which lead me to pleasantness & peace & which add increase to my life in terms of growing in a deeper & more intimate relationship with the Father Jesus & Holy Spirit.
To travel paths of pleasantness and peace seems almost to good to be true . But with Wisdom God is assuring us , we can live this way Amen . Why is it we settle for anything less ??? I know when I am sold out for Jesus when I allow him to be lord of my life even in difficult times I Can travel this life with His peace ! And I am so grateful .
Thank you Allan for opening this up for us to understand more of his word
Every step we take is heading towards intimacy with our saviour. – beautiful.
That forest you are describing sounds lovely.
Great wisdom thought- who are your travelling companions?
“ When our life is under constant tension, our responses, our choices and our actions lean into a direction of hope and trust, built on endless love.” This deeply spoke to my heart today. This an area I know Holy Spirit has been highlighting a need for change, my response under tension. My response says everything about who I believe the lord to be. My heart desires so greatly to have wisdom in my responses, for them to be “delightful and sweet”.
When our life is under constant tension, our responses, our choices and our actions lean into a direction of hope and trust, built on endless love.
This resonated as I read it
And reminded me that we are all under tensions of some description Or another
God has been before us and has it all planned out
The vivid picture you paint of running also reminds us of how mighty our gods creations are
The peace we find in christ Jesus can never be compared to anything.
Wisdom and peace comes from him alone.
In the driest and toughest season we find peace in Him.
When we surrender everything to him and trust him to see us through in obedience to him.
Loved this message, thankyou Allan!