A barren land dotted with stepping stones stretched before me. Up ahead I saw a wide, dark chasm. Black ropes reached out from the chasm wrapping themselves around people, pulling them to the edge. Now at the edge of the chasm I saw that some of the stone paths sloped down into it while others ended at a sheer cliff. Hopelessness and despair crept through my mind almost pulling me into the chasm. Terrified I turned to go back. Then I noticed a wooden beam covered with dark stains stretching above the chasm. Afraid of what the stains might mean but certain that it must lead to something else I began to cross. When I had almost reached the end, I realized that the stains were blood. I was walking on a cross.
On the other side a wall of blood formed a barrier that the ropes and darkness couldn't penetrate. After that flowed a stream that refreshed the mind, soul, and spirit. Coming out of the stream I found myself in a field of grass. Instead of the many bewildering paths that had been on the other side, only a single path where each stone was stained with blood lay ahead. Full of new life I followed the path rejoicing in God's salvation.
Pretty soon things began to seem dark. Trials and hardships assailed me from every side. Desperately I cried out to God, demanding to know why He wasn't with me anymore. I looked down at my feet and once again saw the blood-stained stones marking the path. As I lifted my head, I noticed that there was still a light up ahead. Realizing that the light had always been there because my Savior, Jehovah-Yasha, had already prepared the way, I offered a prayer to God asking Him to forgive me for doubting. Eventually the trials no longer seemed as severe and I could look back and see how they had actually helped to strengthen my faith. Confident in my new found purpose and deeper level of faith, I continued my journey.
It did not take very long, however, before I began to have doubts. This time the trials and hardships seemed more like a fire that threatened to destroy my faith. By either forgetting or willfully choosing not to remember all the times Jehovah-Jireh had helped me before, I almost convinced myself that God no longer cared for me. Deep in my heart I knew that I was choosing to believe a lie but that didn't stop me from railing against God. The truth was I didn't understand everything that I was going through and so I started looking for someone to blame. Quietly God spoke to my heart, reassuring me that He had a plan and reminding me that He will never leave me nor forsake me. He showed me how the trials were purifying me like a fire purifies gold. I repented and once again asked God to forgive me for not completely trusting in Him.
Feeling tired, I paused to look back. When I did, I realized that I had yet to see the pure glory of God. All the glimpses of His glory that I had seen before had been tainted by my shortcomings. Wondering how I could see Jehovah-Shammah intervene in my life over and over and yet still struggle with fully trusting His purposes and plans for my life, I pressed on towards the end.
Blood washed over me cleansing away any doubts, fears, and imperfections that still remained after all this time. Completely pure and holy, I marveled at the power contained in the blood of the Lamb. Stepping forward as a royal daughter of the King of kings, I rejoiced as I entered the presence of my Father, El Shaddai.
As God revealed this picture to me, two things were deeply impressed on my heart. First, every step we take on the path to salvation is made possible only by the blood of Jesus that He willingly shed in order to redeem us. Second, no matter how dark and hard things may seem, God's light is always shining, guiding us to eternal glory. I pray that God will use these truths to touch your heart and change your life.
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