What happens when you climb to the top of the mountain and its covered by a fog bank? That beautiful view you were working so hard to get to is just out of reach. It is there, you just can’t see it. It’s the same thing when you go through a tunnel. Sometimes you have to turn your light on and slow down as our vision is limited in the dark. There are times when we can see the end in sight and other times when you can’t see anything at all. The dark can seem all consuming inside, yet at the entrance it might be cloud cover and rain. We move from limited vision to limited vision.
When we are going through the valleys in our lives, we push on by telling ourselves that there is light at the end of the tunnel. That there is sunshine at the mountain top, what happens to our belief systems when these things don’t happen? It is easy to fall into a deep discouragement when we go from one form of darkness to another form of darkness. Even if it is no longer a complete darkness and we can see several more steps in front of us.
Faith gives us the strength to move forward in our darkest times. When we can’t see the way in front of us and only enough light to guide us to the next place that we need to step forward. We take one single step after another in hopes of reaching light that allows us to see beyond the hand in front of our face. Yet, sometimes, we only move from the ability to barely see to the opportunity to see several feet in front of us. It can be disheartening and discouraging, yet we must remember that we don’t go through anything we aren’t capable of handling. Even when WE feel we aren’t capable. God knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows what we can do and when we need to have an opportunity to lean and rely on Him.Faith gives us the strength to move forward in our darkest times. When we can’t see the way in front of us and only enough light to guide us to the next place that we need to step forward. We take one single step after another in hopes of reaching light that allows us to see beyond the hand in front of our face. Yet, sometimes, we only move from the ability to barely see to the opportunity to see several feet in front of us. It can be disheartening and discouraging, yet we must remember that we don’t go through anything we aren’t capable of handling. Even when WE feel we aren’t capable. God knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows what we can do and when we need to have an opportunity to lean and rely on Him.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Psalms 91:4
When we are weak, He is strong. We say it yet often we don’t mean it. We are just repeating the words we have heard without feeling them or knowing them in our hearts. At times, when we need to take the next step, when we need to move forward to a greater knowledge and understanding of Him our challenges will increase.
It is easy to follow the path that everyone else has tread. It is easy to say the words, to mimic the actions, to have a surface faith and belief. It is easy to believe what other people believe without understanding why we do other than someone we love, know and/or trust has told us that it is the right thing to do.
It is easy to follow the charismatic leader who guides us along, thinking for us and telling us what to believe. What we are to do and how we are to do it, without questioning why. Then when someone asks us why we believe or do what we do, all we can do is parrot what someone else has said. It is when you do question your own believes that you can build and make them stronger. Why do you believe? When did you start believing? When did you stop believing? Was it when the road was dark, empty and lonely? When you felt no one was there with you? When you were struggling along and suddenly decided to shake your fist at the sky and curse the heavens for your heartache and hardship?
Was it during this time when you were so focused on you and what you were going through that you didn’t notice that God was standing right beside you, stretching out a hand to hold and a shoulder to lean on? When He was offering you shelter beneath His wings? When He was trying to guide you and give you protection from the storms? When you were given a chance to discover why you believe the way you do, did you decide to walk away? Or did you see it as an opportunity to grow in grace and faith?
When there are gray skies and clouds over head, when the sun isn’t shining brightly and the birds are singing when you emerge from the tunnel, perhaps this is just God’s way of saying there is still more you can learn. That you are being given a greater chance to grow in His direction. A chance to be showered by His love so that you can really rejoice in the sunshine and victory when the fogbanks clear the sky. We appreciate the sunshine because of the rain not due to the lack of it.
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Phillipians 4:4