Lions in the Pathway

Even while we are trusting, even when we "lean hard" on the Savior, there is, as Amy Carmichael said, room for fear to move.

Little fears we can easily push aside, or shout into submission. Its the bigger fears, the ones that grip the heart with icy fingers and won't let go that are troublesome. Indeed, they roar their chilling ideas in the ears sounding just like lions. They do tend to stop us in our tracks, making progress difficult.

(How grateful I am to have had a mother who took the time to read to her children of another Pilgrim.
This Pilgrim left such a gripping tale, filled with wise directions for those of us who, many generations later walk the same pilgrim way as he. And so today's thought.)

Is your strength too small?

Do not fear the lions for they are chained

and are placed there to test your faith

and to discover those who have none.

Keep to the middle of the path,

and no harm shall come to you.

Then I saw that Christian went forward

trembling for fear of the lions

but carefully following the directions of the Porter.

He heard them roar, but they did him no harm.

Then he clapped his hands and went on...."

We can be ever grateful for our great and wondrous Lion of Judah, the creator, keeper and trainer of lions who even has been known to 'stop the mouths' of lions.

He guides gently and carefully along - down the center of our every path.

Being assured then, that the lions roar cannot harm, may we go on, hands a-clapping.

May we come through this present test, like Apelles of old: "that one tried and approved in Christ".