Everyone blessed with the gift of life finds themselves riding on an intense rollercoaster, complete with loops, sharp turns, precipitous highs and unfathomable lows. Emotions seem to mark each aspect of that journey with joy and sorrow carrying us through one hill; pleasure and pain rounding us through a curve; and celebration and grief joining us at the journey’s end.
Often, we focus on others, who seem to be experiencing more highs than lows on their rollercoaster rides. Comparing ourselves to others tends to cloud our judgment, as we only see those people when they are soaring above the crowd. Somehow, we miss those comparisons when our friends and foes are taking a subterranean plunge. As Christians, God directs our journeys through life. By focusing on others, we lose sight of the fact that His plans have a purpose, individually, in each of our lives. Without difficult times, how special would joyful times be?
In the same way that God created the seasons of spring, summer winter and fall, our lives have those same seasons. Christian lives also contain distinct differences as we draw closer to God. Looking back, there is nothing like that initial season, the honeymoon with God. After becoming a Christian and feeling the enormous burden of sin removed brings us joy, relief, hope, love and many other feelings and emotions. Typically, the trials begin soon after, as we head into a new season. The first trial in the life of a Christian teaches us that God never will walk away. From that point on, the trials get more difficult, but our abilities to rely on His power continue to grow stronger still. Most Christians would not reflect upon this season as the easiest, but it might be thought of as the most special.
Additionally, we have seasons that contain mountaintop experiences. There is nothing like that closeness to the Lord. When we are sitting with God on the peak, we can look down and around, seeing the past problems that He carried us through, seeing the difficult paths that brought us to the mountaintop, and seeing the valleys that lie ahead. It is the calm before and after the storm, with rest for the weary and refreshment for the soul. The Bread of Life gives us food, the Living Water gives us drink and Jesus gives us rest in Him:
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Another season occurs when Christians come to the end of their journeys. Friends and families grieve, as we will not be able to create new memories together on this earth. But for Christians, a different journey begins. When we leave this earth, God grants us righteousness in Him. Sin no longer will darken our days, as that nature will be gone forever. Pain and tears also will disappear with God’s miraculous provision. Illness, disease and injury will be gone, too. There will be no more brokenness, despair, anger, depression, blame or imperfection. When watching an older Christian approach death, we can see God grant them increasing serenity as that day approaches. And in addition to being with our Savior for all of eternity, we get to share that with our fellow believers!
Enjoy the ride! Each day is a gift, and it does not matter if we are presently on a path that involves the lowest low, the life that has been given to us is precious. Every aspect of the journey is a new lesson, created by God to draw us closer to Him. There is no better place to be than exactly where God wants us! Embrace where He has you today!
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Philippians 1:6
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