POEM - The Crucible

 The cactus

grew

there,

In the desert.

It was

hard

to believe,

but

there it 

grew.

In

unrelenting,

scorching,

and blazing hot

sun

by day.

Cold temperatures

by night.

It was by night, though,

in the dark,

that it could breathe.

In.

It could breathe

out,

in that dry,

arid desert

crucible.

Alone

but its

resilience

was at its best;

its best, best.

And that's like

life.

We go 

through 

valleys,

those

shadows of death.

But 

mountains of

victory,

come.

And we 

breathe

in.

and out,

in our

crucible 

of

life.

We 

endure.

We

become

resilient -

like that cactus.

And

in that crucible

we find,

"the fourth man."

He 

is the

One

who walks

beside

us.

Never leaving,

Never forsaking.

Never failing

us.

In

Him

we can

trust,

with 

all

our 

heart.

And

go on

breathing

in,

breathing 

out,

despite

the heat

and

the cold.

Thank You, Lord.

For

Your

sustaining breath

in the night

and  in this

crucible

of 

life.

~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Proverbs 3:5 & 6 ESV; Psalm 23:4; Daniel 3:24-26; Hebrews 13:5 and Zephaniah 3:5 ESV.

Sing, Trust In God (Chris Brown), along with Elevation Music.