Can you remember the first time you heard (or said) this phrase? I remember a much younger me imitating a scene from a movie – flopping on a poolside chaise lounge in a beautiful backyard, enjoying a fun celebration with loved ones. “Ahhhh. This is the LIFE!”

Lately, I’ve been repeating the phrase with a different emphasis.

I do my best to avoid pitfalls and problems. I will mitigate the absolute heck out of a plan or program in order to remove all foreseeable obstacles, roadblocks, and dangers. I prefer to eliminate the mistakes in advance and avoid mishaps when possible. And when the errors or the difficult circumstances do occur, I am quick to pray for the wisdom to navigate and pivot well, then make the necessary improvements for “next time.”

But some pains and problems are unavoidable. I’m not naive enough to be surprised by hardship. Life keeps life-ing and people keep people-ing. The older I get, the more I find that many days are hard. Then they get so much harder that the first “hard” seems easy. For a planner and a figure-it-out-in-advance person like myself, it might seem that something has gone terribly wrong.

Except.
I am following Jesus. The Good Shepherd. I am convinced that nothing arrives in my life without passing through His hands first. If it is happening, even though it may not be caused by Him, it is being allowed into my life by Him. He does not leave me alone. He walks me through it. He uses all things, good and bad, to shape me. Nothing, not even pain, is wasted. He brings the victory. Truly, if there is ever a real solution or fix, He brings it. Even with all of my best preparation and planning, I bring very little to the table.

And so,
I can confidently say,
THIS is the life. THIS ONE. Right here. This day is the day all the days prior have been preparing me for.

In this day’s overwhelm with too many things to do in the time allotted, when I am literally going moment by moment and “just-in-timing” my socks off just to barely survive, He knew this day was coming, and he prepared me for it by building in the ability to find peace in chaos.

And this day of holding big joy in one hand and deep concern in the other. With these prayers of thanksgiving and these prayers for God’s Presence and Provision, for His Help and for Healing. Here in this waiting. In THIS life, where sometimes I feel like I’m just holding on, I remember I am “the embraced one who embraces the One.”

Ah. THIS is the Life.
The words are the same, but they mean so much more than before. I know the Lord is with me. I know He’s here to guide. I know He hears every prayer. There’s no need to wonder. There’s no time for imposter syndrome. He has me where I’m supposed to be, and He has me, no matter what.

What is the Lord walking you through today? I am praying for you, too!

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,  he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.