• Home
    • Gathering Guidelines
    • Ways to Give
  • Prayer Corner
    • Share a Request
    • Memorial Tribute >
      • Hetty Postma
      • Edna Kirby
      • Norman Hunter
      • Ina Rottier
      • Dennis Brommeland
      • Norris Thompson
      • Irv Wood
      • Ann Vander Kooi
      • Jack Demorest
      • Yde Vander Kooi
      • Ainsley Rose Wollf
      • Dick Mayer
      • David Rusnell
      • Bob McKay
      • Guy Deschatelets
      • Chloe Kroeger
      • Ida Barisoff
      • Gerard Zandee
      • Nick Dikur
  • About Valley
    • Annual Reports >
      • 2022 Annual Report
      • 2021 Annual Report
      • 2020 Annual Report
      • 2019 Annual Report
      • 2018 Annual Report
    • Membership Information
    • Who We Are
    • What We Believe
    • How We Are Governed >
      • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Where We Are Going
  • Ministries
    • Leadership Team >
      • Nomination Committee
      • Benevolent Ministry
    • Finance and Property >
      • 2023 Budget
      • Current Quarterly Report
    • Missions >
      • Missions Guidelines
    • Caring and Connecting
    • Christian Education >
      • Library
    • Worship >
      • Heritage House
  • What's Happening
    • Bulletin
    • Links
  • Photos
    • Annual Celebration >
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
    • 30th Anniversary
    • 25th Anniversary
    • Follow the Duck 2014
    • Mexico 2013
    • Follow the Crown 2013
    • "The Bridge"
    • 20th Anniversary
  • Messages
    • Archived Messages 2023
    • Archived Messages 2022
    • Archived Messages 2021
    • Archived Messages 2020
    • Archived Messages 2019
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Directory
VALLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Learning to Trust

3/11/2023

0 Comments

 
In their 2008 book entitled 'Not Quite What I Was Planning", authors Larry Smith and Rachel  Fershleiser capture the 'Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure'.  As I reflect on my current journey, the six words that immediately come to mind are:  this is not what I expected. 

I did not expect at this point of my life to be dealing with a series of health concerns that have been, quite honestly, burdensome.  I am extremely grateful for the wonderful care I have received.  We are blessed to have a primary care physician, a family doctor who is both knowledgeable and compassionate, and a man of faith.  I have received, by today's standards, timely appointments with specialists, and was most fortunate to receive a quick surgery date to relief the intense pain I was experiencing in my back.  For all of this I am truly thankful.  But, as I have quite often said to Janice of late, I don't want to live like this.

Though she has been kind and gracious, as she quietly reminds me, 'for better or for worse', it bothers me deeply that I have had to rely on her to help me get up, get dressed or drive me to yet another appointment. I feel helpless at times. I don't want to be that person whose calendar is filled with doctor's appointments, tests and scans.  Yet this has been my journey for the past year-and-a-half, even longer.  I cannot remember the last time I woke up or went to bed feeling no pain; I have a greater empathy for those who live with chronic pain.

In all of this I have sought to continue to do the work to which God has called me.  I am most grateful for a loving and caring church family, for the support of our Elders and Leadership Team.  As I have said to them, 'I'm trying, I'm doing my best to honor the call that God has placed on my life'. At this point, I don't belief God has or is releasing from that call, and my desire is still to serve in my role as the pastor at Valley.  I believe God has given me, these past number of months a special grace to be 'in the pulpit', strength to literally stand and speak His truth. I am blessed and honored to serve my Lord and you, the people of Valley.  But still, I wonder, 'Lord, what is that you are seeking to do in my life, through all of this'?

In part the answer has come as I have defaulted to my place of refuge, worship and the Psalms.  Often of late,  I lie awake at night, mostly because it's hard to get comfortable and sleep eludes me.  In those times, I plug in my I-pod and listen to worship music, and in this I find strength and rest.  During the day, I turn back to the Psalms, in which the writers often waver between anguish and trust; both are equally real in their lives.  How do you trust, when pain is the preoccupation of your life?

The words of David in Psalm 23:4-5 have resonated within my heart:  Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

I am learning that navigating my way through the hard places of life does not mean passively trusting God but actively seeking His guidance; seeking His wisdom, to know how to apply the truth I find in His Word to the circumstances of my life.  God's desire is to direct our paths.  Sometimes that means redefining or refining or desires and wills.  This is the place in which I find myself, and honestly friends, it is both scary, yet reassuring.

My 'bookmark' in a somewhat tattered version of 'The Psalms', written approximately 160 years ago, is a little card, titled 'My Covenant'.  I vividly remember signing it almost 30 years ago.  It reads:  Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes and accept Your will for my life.  I give myself, my life, and all, utterly to You to be Yours forever.  Go on filling me with Your Spirit.  Use me as You will: send me where You will; work out Your whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever.

Okay, Lord, 
BECAUSE You are my God...I put my trust in You (Psalm 25:1 - The Voice).
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Ken Clarke has been the Pastor at Valley since 2007. He lives in the Oliver area 
    with his wife Janice. They have three adult children, Lisa, Scott & Tiffany (Riley, Charlie), Andrea & Jason (Noah, Luke).

    Categories

    All
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church
    Creation
    Easter
    Finishing Well
    Leadership
    Mexico
    Most Viewed
    Nature Of God
    Our Stories
    Parenting
    Prayer
    Relationships
    Worship

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

4312 Black Sage Road Box 1235 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 250-498-4829 valleyccc@hotmail.com