Letter to a Friend Who is Going on a Journey

(For G. recently diagnosed with cancer.)

My dear friend and sister in the Lord, 

Yesterday you confided that you received the  invitation from the one who loves you to come away:
"Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me,"  the letter said. Song of Songs 2:10

Yes, it is He---for whom your soul longs-- who is calling and your heart says "yes." But you are quivering. You are afraid.   

You do not know where you are going, so you are afraid.  Perhaps, you are afraid because you think you are not ready. Perhaps, other loves are calling you and you hesitate to leave. 

But you have been yearning for Him all your life, have you not? 
In your heart of hearts, you know you do. But all of these other loves have been keeping you away.  But this "Jealous One" that you speak of, loves with a love that will not let go. He wants you. His desire is for you. He stood at your door one day and banged harder so you can hear Him. You finally opened the door and He asks you. And you decide, of your own free will:Yes,I will go.

You are on the brink, ready to step out into this great and fearful voyage. You know, as I do, that it won't be easy. You will come upon valleys of darkness and deep silence, where your enemy is waiting for you and your Beloved seems distant, or absent. This is how you will learn to live faith. This is when you need the prayers of your people to lift you up. You are not alone. We are with you--as God is with us-to carry you through. 

"Your journey has been charted in advance, the trail has been blazed, and the path is engraved in your heart. Your path---the path set out for you--was born into you when you were born into the kingdom of God...the way is Jesus Himself--when you walk in Him, you have found your way...Bring nothing with you except a tender and teachable spirit."1

Surely, He will fulfill His purposes for you. He will reveal His power through you. Like a refiner's fire, out of your jagged rock, all the dross will be burned to bring out a pure, and holy gem of beauty, a vessel of His grace, created and refined for His glory. For this reason you were made. For this reason He is calling you now;for this reason you are going away. 

And as you are getting yourself ready for the journey, He tells you to trust Him. 
"But now, this is what the Lord says--
He who created you, O Jacob,
He who formed you, O Israel:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you, 
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you:
When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; 
the flames will not set you ablaze."

Isaiah 43:12

Listen to His voice in the stillness, and the pain. 
"Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know."  Jeremiah  33:3

Embrace his nearness; dwell in His love. He is the Lover of your soul. 
"But as for me, the nearness of my God is my good." Psalm 73:28

The one who loves you has, Himself, planned this for you from the very beginning. A chapter of your story is about to unfold. 

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, 
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

Psalm 84:5


Your long-lost, now-found friend and sister in the Beloved,
Ann

P.S. 

Thank you for inviting me to share your journey with you.
1 From the book "He Restores My Soul" by Jennifer Kennedy Dean