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My Dearly Beloved Brethren,

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty” (Psalms 91:1)
Some years ago I spent a few weeks with a missionary family traveling through the ranchos above San Luis Potosi, Mexico with a truck full of Bibles and gospel literature to distribute. Every day the missionary would send me and his son out with backpacks and satchels full of Juan y Romanos to give out door to door, as we walked village to village. After several weeks of sleeping under the stars, sitting on rocks to eat three meals a day of beans, rice, and nopalitos with only corn tortillas as utensils, and bathing and washing our clothes in a river, I was exhausted. On this particular morning as we walked through the barren landscape with our load of scriptures, our attention was arrested by a lone tree in the distance casting more shade than we’d seen in weeks. Our pace quickened with the anticipation of a cool respite from the heat. Under the tree we promptly shed our burden and lay our heads on our loads to rest. Late in the afternoon when the missionary came driving down the road looking for us, we were still there, sound asleep, without a care in the world.
I’m ashamed to say that often in the heat of the day and under the burdens of life, I have failed to rest in the shadow of the Almighty, to cast my burden down and to rest from the weary journey. It amazes me how routinely we walk right by the cool, refreshing shadow, failing to practice the presence of God. Our negligence to rest in the shadow of the Almighty is only further aggravated by our insistence upon voicing the weight of our burdens, the demand of our duties, the grievance of our frustrations, and the difficulties of our path to others. It says much about our relationship with our First Love when we rush to tell everyone else about our problems without going to him first. Let a situation arise in the home and we’ll call mom and dad, a buddy or a brother, but not our First Love. Let the church adopt a policy that seems too strident, and we’ll tell everyone else about our dissatisfaction but our First Love. Let someone wrong us and we’ll be quick to spread the word among everyone but the Lord. Let a disagreement divide a marriage and we’ll call the pastor for counsel before we ever kneel, hand-in-hand to access the mercy-seat. We lament the poor selection this presidential race leaves us; we’ll talk about it for hours with anyone who’ll listen, but we haven’t spent ten minutes praying about it. The financial market is troubled, and we’ll voice our worries to everyone but the one who can actually provide for our needs. It’s time to turn that 401(k) into a 401(pray)! Abide under the shadow of the Almighty!
If it’s not our failure to access the shadow of the Almighty then it’s often our failure to appreciate it! In the possession of all that life could offer, I failed to possess an attitude of gratitude. Only the loss of all things has taught me that art of appreciation. I could not count the number of styrofoam cups I’ve thrown away, but coming into the possession of one in prison after two months without having anything to drink from caused me a great deal of gratitude! So many blessings compose our lives and still we fixate on our burdens. The most grateful people often happen to be the poorest, those who have nothing, that is, nothing by our materialistic standards, but who are rich in spirit, in friendship, in love, and contentment. It is our sense of entitlement to abundance that leaves us thanklessly poor. A trifling neglect in the home and we forget its many joys. That strident policy of the church and we forget how many sorrows she has prevented. A loved one fails to rise to our expectations, to fulfill our entitlements, and we lose sight of the sky for the stars. A parent or a spouse doesn’t add up to our expectations, and we lose all sense of gratitude for their many commitments. The single most fundamental lack among us is gratitude, and that very lack excludes us from the distinct sense of God’s presence. The Psalmist directs us to the shadow of the Almighty with this insight: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise” (Psalms 100:4). That’s not too difficult to do! It’s hard to be concerned about the heat of the day and the weight of life’s burdens when you are resting in the shadows! In the miserable confines of a Roman prison, Paul describes his condition as being seated “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus!” From under the shadow of the Almighty, he urges us to join him by “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). Would we willingly pass by the refreshing shadows to stumble along the weary path? Would we focus so intently on our grief that we don’t even realize the shade along the way? Enter into the quiet place, silence your heart and glory in the Lord who inhabits the praises of his people. In his presence all fears are calmed, all cares are abandoned, ten thousand delightful thoughts arise, innumerable pleasures are unsealed, and joy spreads over the soul as it adores, admires, and worships the Almighty one. The soul who abides there calls no burden, nor insult, nor injustice his own but rejoices in every difficulty and disappointment that drives him into deeper desperation for the Lord. He thankfully accepts every blessing and burden alike for their incentive to walk closer with Jesus. And he possesses an attitude of gratitude for every changing circumstance that serves to enliven his soul, to sweeten his fellowship with God, and to bind his heart with his First Love. There is no need to manipulate the circumstances we face, to wish that life was easier, to complain about the demands and difficulties of the way: there is a home within the wilderness, a rest along the way from the burning of the noonday heat and the burden of the day. Abide under the shadow of the Almighty!
I cannot say how grateful I am to be your brother and friend, to be influenced by your love, your support, your letters, and your prayers. I think of you all often, and pray daily that you will both recognize and realize the continual presence of the Lord as you fulfill your daily duties. The Lord be magnified! His yoke is easy and his burden is light!

Much Love,
Caleb and Joshua
PS: Please remember that my book, The Embrace of Grace is now available at www.victorybaptistpress.com