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I blew my nose, wiped away the snot and decided to get off my pity pot. I made a vow—life is not going to get me down because I have remembered that God is in all my circumstances.
Although 2007 wasn’t the best year I’ve ever had, I have learned that without tribulation, we cannot grow spiritually. Through trials, we learn to trust God more.
For some reason, last year was a challenge for many people with whom I have visited lately. Maybe it was the ice storm that hit in January or the one in December. Both left thousands in the dark, wondering after several weeks when power would be restored. Maybe it was the uncertainty at the gas pumps as prices rose and fell at the whim of who knows. Maybe it was more personal, like the loss of a loved one, or health problems that were unexpected.
Many of us have spent more time in the valley than on the mountaintop this past year. But life in the valley is where battles are lost or won. Reaching the top is anticlimactic, even if it is more peaceful. How can we appreciate the view from the mountain if we haven’t endured the climb?
For Christians, it’s not so much a question of whether we’ll have to face a trial but a matter of when. We can become discouraged, however, as we struggle up that hill, only to look back and see that we haven’t come as far as we had planned. Therein lies the problem—our plans. God has a much better plan for our life than we can even conceive. But if we take our eyes off of Him, it’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves and climb back onto our pity pot.
God calls us to be faithful right where we are, even if it is in the valley. If we belong to Him, then we can rest assured that things happen for a purpose. Sometimes, it’s only when we look back that we see His perfect plan at work. When I do, I am simply amazed at His goodness.
Faith is a life-long journey, through the valleys and up the mountaintops. It’s not a one-time shot after we’ve come to accept the Lord as our Savior but a daily recommitment, remembering that His mercies are new each morning.
Without struggle, there is no victory. I was reminded of this recently when, in my busyness, I forgot to water one of my favorite exotic plants. When I saw the leaves drooping pitifully, I picked up the pot and set it in my kitchen sink. I left the faucet on to drip slowly into the parched soil, hoping my beautiful plant would survive.
Later that day, revived by moisture, the plant showed no signs of distress. It was a reminder to me that even when we struggle, God will provide all we need to overcome.