The gray brick road
The word “if,” principally spreads throughout the heart and mind in times of inadequacy, with scolding whispers, “if only I would’ve done this,” or “if only I wouldn’t have said that.”
The “if only” is worse; it pulls the soul onto a gray brick road, the pathway of despair and condemnation, stumbling along, feeling misdirected.
You’ve not encountered the gray brick road you might say, well tuck this short blog into your notebook, and pull it out once you find its entrance.
During those times of “if” or “if only,” God is working behind the scenes, doing more than you can possibly think, recalibrating your soul, to know Him in a deeper way.
Surely the disciples had to experience this dilemma, as all souls do, which is why Jesus prepared them for every “if” or “if only” that would come.
“But take notice, the hour is coming, and it has arrived, when you will all be dispersed and scattered, every man to his own home, leaving Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” John 16:32-33 AMPC
Jesus addressed the time in which the disciples would enter the gray brick road in the Gospel of John. Scattered and dispersed from Him, the whispers had to crowd Peter, James, and John, as Niagara Falls “if only you would not have said that Peter,” “If only you would have only done that James,” or “if only you would have stayed John.”
Jesus defeated the gray brick road in this world and brings us out of its winding path, closing the door to the entrance, as we’re liberated in the freedom of His peace. The gray brick road brings with it tribulation, distress, and frustration, all leading to fear. The peace that Jesus left for His disciples would pull them off the distressful path, giving them contentment, that there’s another Way.
That Way is Jesus, the life He gives so freely to all who will receive. That is the peace He distributed to all who would yield to His call, to enter the peace of the Lord, knowing this world has no power over them.
Saints, there are so many distractions in this world, which suffocate all life within our beings of Christ Jesus, which is His peace. When you find yourself frustrated, distressed, or discouraged, know that you’re on the gray brick road of “IF ONLY,” and God will bring you out in such peace of His Son because He has already defeated the world’s power, the gray brick road!