When I was little, I used to sing this nursery rhyme called “The farmer in the dell”. In the song, everything gets taken by the thing that came before it…until you get to the end. At the end, we sang:

“The cheese stands alone.”

The mouse took the cheese, but there’s nothing for the cheese to have. The cheese was left to stand alone.

All of 2022, the spirit of God reminded me and reminded me ”Strengthen what remains” and “Go in the strength that you have.” I never knew the depths of this word towards me, except that every day I lose a little more. Every day I am a bit more deserted. Every day, I am watching everything that looked solid slide through my fingers, so much sinking sand.

The cheese stands alone.

Paul said, “At my FIRST answer, no one stood with me but GOD.” How many times have you—have I stood all alone in a moment where you’ve only needed someone to stand up WITH you? Not strangers or professionals but those whose defense you e come running to? Those for whom you’ve given your best in all things by the will of God? It can be mighty lonely, pursuing the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ to the glory of the Father and edification of His beloved body…only to look around and… well. There is always beauty for ashes when God informs a thing.

NOTWITHSTANDING, God stood with me.

And that’s the part. No matter what, so long as I stand in the grace and mercy of the Father, His power is made perfect in my weakness. The joy of the Lord IS my strength. Even when there is nothing to take, and I have to stand alone.

As I close out a chapter of my life I never expected to read or write, I am reminded that in everything, I give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning me. I am reminded that no weapon (not even if formed by my own hand and certainly not anyone else’s) shall prosper and every lying tongue shall be condemned because this is my heritage in the Lord as His child. God is the joy and strength of my life. All other ground is sinking sand.

And this cheese is able to stand because I’m standing by the grace of God.

A living testimony,