Do you know the legend
of the Cherokee Indian youth’s
rite of passage?

His dad takes him into the forest, blindfolds,
and leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night
and not take off the blindfold
until the rays of the sun shine through it.
He is all by himself.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience.
Each lad must come into his own manhood.
The boy was terrified and could hear all kinds of noises.
Beasts were all around him.
Maybe even some human would hurt him.
The wind blew the grass and earth, and it shook his stump.
But he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold.
It was the only way he could become a man.
Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared
and he removed his Blindfold.
It was then that he saw his father sitting
on the stump next to him, at watch the entire night.

Dark times come.
Hard times…
times of questioning and struggling…
times of uncertainty and discouragement…
times when we feel we are spinning in circles…
or walking aimlessly in the dark trying to find our way…
times we feel lost and alone…

But we’re not alone.
And would it surprise you to hear that these are some of the most blessed moments?

It is a time of searching, examining, learning…
A time of purging, refining, polishing…
A time of changing, practicing, trusting…
A time that will guide you toward His intentions for you.

We are never alone. Even when we do not realize it,
our Father is protecting us. He is sitting on the stump beside us.
All we have to do is reach out to Him.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid, nor be discouraged,
for יהוה your Elohim is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9