The roads we travel in this life are not always easy. Sometimes the narrow winding path is a constant uphill climb with the threat of storm clouds around every bend. Just when we think we have weathered another storm, and put the clouds behind us, another one comes to take its place. When all life is offering are storms and steep rocky cliffs, our weary hearts can get discouraged and begin to long for clear skies and sunshine. We can be deceived into believing that it is sunshine and level ground that we need, but this is far from the truth. All we need… is Jesus.
The fear can be subsided with Jesus.
The emptiness can be filled with Jesus.
The uncertainty of our situation melts away in the certainty of who Jesus is.
Loneliness fades with the presence of Jesus.
The love and power of Jesus conquers all.
All we need is Jesus.
While sunny days on the flat land of the plains can be beautiful, there is a different kind of beauty in the mountains of adversity. While it is an awesome thing to be able to see for miles around, and to be able to see the road you are traveling laid out before you, knowing what lies ahead often results in us relying on ourselves to get there. Faith is what is beautiful and pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. Hebrews 11:6 says that “without faith it is impossible to please God”, so if it takes a trek in the mountains to stretch my faith and please my God, then I’m a mountain kind of gal! The road may be rough and there may be uncertainty around every bend, but it’s that uncertainty that keeps me from trusting in my own abilities and keeps me relying completely on my God.
When some of the clouds cleared today, the beauty of what I saw, and the sweet presence of my Jesus, put me face down on the floor. When I was able to get up, my heart was so overcome with joy, that I could not contain it, praise overflowed and I worshiped. Yes, this sweet moment with my Savior came at the end of a long uphill climb, and it may have cost me some heartache, but that overflowing moment of joy with Jesus was worth weathering the storms of life and worth the bumpy road it took to get there. For in that moment, I took in the beauty of my God that can only be seen on a trip through the mountains and I felt the peace that can only be experienced by walking this journey wherever it might lead, hand-in-hand with Jesus.
Oh the sweet presence of Jesus.
Don’t you just love Him?
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel — which means, “God with us”” (Matthew 1:23, NIV)