Mountains and Valleys
The journey of life on planet Earth is fraught with danger, and this reality is the backdrop, the context, of my relationship with Christ. My father always said, “You don’t know what a day will bring.” And this is true. I don’t know. The overriding truth: God knows – God sees – God cares. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (NASB)
Why is it that the truth of God’s word doesn’t always define my emotions? It’s so tempting to fret and worry about what I don’t know and to try and reason out what tomorrow holds for me, what the next hour holds for me. Truth is, even when I think I know what to expect, any security I may feel in this knowledge is tentative at best. What to do?
If you are a believer, your intellectual knowledge will immediately quote any number of verses regarding the trustworthiness and faithfulness of God and any number of methods and patterns of prayer. And these are excellent points not to be disdained.
For me, when emotions belie what I “know” to be true, I must not delay in casting my cares upon Him. Turning, again, to see His face, and believing that He, who is full of grace and truth, is able to reveal truth to my heart and make grace abound to me.
Turning to Him when I am in a valley with limited sight distance requires that I give thanks, declare gratitude, and stand firm in conviction of His faithfulness and goodness regardless of how I feel. This immediately connects me to the reality that I am already seated with Him in heavenly places and can “see” with faith sight all I need to see to move forward with Him.
Having been on the mountain with Him and seen a further horizon, I am less inclined to be distracted in the valley by the current limited perspective. And also more inclined to eagerly anticipate the unknown rather than be anxious or afraid of the unknown.
Lord, thank You for inviting me into Your story and for promising to be with me always. With You there is hope, with You there is energy, with You there is grace, with You there is truth. Thank You for opening my eyes to wonder and excitement rather than fear and anxiety. Anything can happen, and I’m grateful to be with the One who created all things, holds all things, and knows all things. You have good plans. You are perfect in all your ways. My song rises to You, whether in the valley or on the mountain top. You are always the same, and there is no shadow of turning with You. Thank You for the light of your Word and the joy of Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.
What unknowns are currently gripping you with anxiety? Make a list and try to look at each thing/situation/relationship with an attitude of gratitude. In any circumstance, you can always be grateful that He is with you. He promised to be and He is, whether you feel it or not. Sometimes you have to practice giving thanks until you actually feel grateful. Keep at it. I promise it will be worth it.
Until next week, remember that He is with you and He will never leave or forsake you.