Leaning
You know how we wake up some days with a song going through our heads? It’s often a song that we haven’t thought of for years. The chorus of “Learning to Lean” has been going through my brain all morning. At least it’s a piece I like. Not just some random ditty.
Here are the lyrics I’ve been pondering. “Learning to lean, Learning to lean, I’m learning to lean on Jesus. Finding more power than I’ve ever dreamed, I’m learning to lean on Jesus.” These lyrics were penned by John Stallings around 1977. I wonder what experiences he had been going through that prompted him to write these words.
I’m not sure that leaning comes naturally. It’s a learning process. We like to stand on our own two feet and be independent. But with age comes more and more leaning. Canes and crutches and walkers aren’t things we would choose to adorn ourselves with. But necessity warrants them at times.
More than physical leaning, we need to lean on people for emotional stability. How thankful we can be to have friends and relatives who support us when we are weak. Sometimes we are slow to realize how much we need to lean on someone that we trust. Here are some of the lyrics to Ken Medema’s moving song called “There’s a Turning.” Hold my hand now, don’t desert me as we’re walking another mile. At the turnings in the pathway, we will stop and lean a while. And we’ll press on close together with Emmanuel in the lead. In the turning and the leaning, we’ll be learning, yes, indeed.”
God Himself, more than any other, is our spiritual stabilizer. “The Lord is my rock,” said the psalmist (Psalm 18:2). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). He is dependable. We can trust Him. We can rest in Him during these difficult times
How about a little learning and leaning today? Maybe even a lot?
Have you heard the story about “Come Thou Fount”? It was written by Robert Robinson many years ago along with many other good songs. For awhile he was a very good preacher.
Later in life he was riding in a stage coach and a young lady was humming that song. The lady just to make conversation said “Do you know that song?” “Know it.” said Robinson, “I wrote that song years ago before I became a miserable old man.” Sad for a man to write such a good hymn and then desert the faith. He died a short time after he said this to the lady.
Boone, Iowa. We all need to lean on God or on someone .
What a sad story. No wonder some of the text of that song says, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.” We all need to keep trusting and leaning and standing on the Rock.
We all need to lean on God and on others too. Do you know the great hymn, “Come Thou Fount?” It was written by Robert Robinson. He was at one time a great preacher. One day he was riding in a stage coach. A young lady was humming his hymn. Just to make conversation she asked Robert, “Do you know that hymn?” “Know it,” he answered, “I wrote that song before I became a miserable old man.” Sad for a man to write such a good hymn and then leave
the faith. He died a short time later.
Leaning on the Lord in the journey of life is the only stability secure there is. Widowhood brings the challenge and necessity of learning hard upon Him. As promised Protector ( of widows) He is secure and faithful