A DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT by Marilyn Bennett
Lord of the Dance
Imagine waltzing with God. The Bible tells us that Miriam danced in worship (Exodus 15:20) as did David (2 Samuel 6:14). And Psalm 150:4 says: “Praise him with tambourine and dance; Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”
I do not tell people I dance with Jesus because they might think I am crazy. Perhaps you will understand.
My first husband of 28 years gave me a hug, left the house saying when he would be home, and never came back. My first concern was for him. Was he in an accident? Did he commit suicide? No, he had just left me without saying anything.
One of the ways I was able to move slowly out of the pain of losing my husband was to be held in the arms of God.
When my first husband held me, I never felt held. I always felt used. Passion can mask what we think is love. I remember sitting next to my husband feeling like I was not in the room. I thought his roaming eye was my fault. I was not loving enough. I was not serving him enough. I did not keep the house clean enough. I was not thin enough. Domestic abuse comes in many forms. So, when God held me that first night I realized my husband was not coming back, I felt really held for the first time and was able to drift off into beautiful sleep.
When I was growing up, I was not allowed to dance or go to a dance, but I would still dance, in my room, by myself. So, I knew what it felt like to dance alone. I had done it all my life. But when my husband did not come home, I had no desire to dance at all. In fact, I had difficulty breathing. Some of you know that feeling.
Yet, there I was, after he left, dancing with Jesus feeling more held than I ever felt in my life.
Years later, God gave me a partner who showered me, my children, and my grandchildren with love. My first husband never danced with me, but my second husband loved dancing with me. In fact, he would dance only with me. I finally understood the song, “Love is a many splendored thing.” However, my new husband’s love was just icing on the cake. My true love was and is Jesus Christ and Jesus was my new husband’s true love too.
Now I am a widow, once more alone. Yet not. My Lord and I still dance. Jesus still holds me at night so I can fall asleep. If you have not experienced peace that passes all understanding, I invite you to ask Jesus to dance with you. Can you experience God’s nearness? Absolutely.
God loves to hold us firmly, guide us gently, move us purposely if we only let him. My late husband would say to me, “Let me lead.” Having never danced, I had to learn how. Let Jesus lead you, my friend. Jesus is waiting. Jesus is calling. Jesus wants you to dance with Him and be his partner for life.
