Leaning upon the Beloved

One Saturday evening, over fifty years ago, I sat in a prayer meeting and listened to the Rev. John Collinson share these precious words, that still ring fresh in my ears today; “Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?”

So many things can be used to prop us up in the Christian life. We may lean on the pastor or our brothers and sisters. We can lean on a reputation or a spouse. We can use a good name, good deeds or an association with someone important or even a ministry. A good job, a great family or fine home can all become leaning posts to make us feel secure.

But if any of these things were taken away we could fall over. Everything Job had gained was taken away, but he was leaning upon God and said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job l9:25).

Even the burdened prophet Habakkuk leaned on the Lord. ‘Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labour of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no good; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord is my strength’ (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

It is often when we go through a ‘wilderness’ experience that we learn to do the leaning. Sometimes when we lose our props and leaning posts, we wake up to the fact that Jesus was there all the time, waiting to support us, wanting to share our burdens.
We are never too young, and never too old to lean on Jesus. He longs for us to lean upon Him. What wonderful things He whispers to us when we are in that close communion.

And this year, at the age of almost 98, when Rev. John Collinson, God’s precious servant was called home, he was still ‘leaning upon his Beloved’, and reflecting His joy.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are our Beloved Saviour and that Your faithfulness and love endures forever. May we lean closely upon You all our days. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.