"Relieved"

My heartbeats sound like hoofbeats,

And my time-line like a rope,

Of sailing, uncoiled moments,

Around the horns of hope.

My breathing sounds like counting,

Livestock through a gate,

And trying to go slower,

And on God to wait.

My eating and my drinking,

Are like the ebb and flow,

Of shadows on the mountains,

That change in sunlight’s glow.

My waking and my sleeping,

From dawn till dusk and night,

The husbandry of cattle,

And with the weather’s fight.

My going and my coming,

My loving and my best,

All with squeaking leather,

Before I’m laid to rest.

And then rise from the shadows,

Of heaven’s glowing light,

Step into the saddle,

With Him who makes things right.

And know there in those pastures,

Forever ride relieved,

Because of Christ my Savior,

Whom my soul has received.

“…We confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory…” (Romans 5:2, NLT)

Going to heaven is something we confidently and joyfully anticipate. This life is more about that than anything else. Not to say this life is unimportant. It certainly is important! But made more so because it impacts our eternal existence. The faith of this life leads us to the fulness of the next. The trials of this life lead to the rewards of the next. The challenges of this life lead to the relief of the next. Now is important, but the eternal now is coming and Jesus makes us confident!

Lord, make us confident and joyful, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Travis Austin Bennett, used by permission. Thanks, and God bless you.