On The Mountaintop
Have you ever wondered
why life seems to be filled with more valley experiences than mountaintop
experiences? Mountaintop experiences are
fun!
The view is awesome and you feel alive and exhilarated! From the mountaintop,
life is good and you feel as though you could conquer the world. While you may
have concerns, none of them are urgent. Problems can wait for another day
because nothing is going to come between you and your happiness.
Then, one day you wake
up and you realize your view has changed. Where is the mountaintop? Is it
hidden in the fog of life’s pressing issues? Is it there at all? At some point
in time, you have slid down the mountain. You look around as your half-asleep
self begins to adjust to another day of living. Life seems uncertain and life’s
issues seem front and foremost. Suddenly, you realize you have landed at the
bottom of the mountain.
Valleys Are
Green With Growth
Have you ever noticed
that mountaintops are not as green and lush as valleys? Mountaintops contain
far less vegetation than their counterparts and they do not flourish with life
the way valleys do. Yet the valleys of life seem like a dreaded place to be. We
associate the valleys of life as a place where we cannot see God’s plan. We
question and lament over what our life’s purpose is and we work tirelessly to
fight our way back to the top of the mountain. Let me remind you, my friend,
growth takes place in the valley because when we are wrenching in emotional
pain and we feel lost and unsure of which way to go, we let go and allow God to
work. During this painful process, we sit at the feet of Jesus and we take time
to listen to His quiet, still voice. True growth occurs as we walk in the
darkness of uncertainty and grab onto the Lord’s hand for guidance as we walk
cautiously to regain assurance.
Learning To Live In The Valley
When I was younger I
thought life was all roses and romance and happily-ever-after. As a more mature
woman, I am learning to live in the valley. Life is complex. Life is messy.
Life is difficult. Yet life is amazing. Life is good. Life is worth the effort.
As that younger woman, I thought the only times worth living were the mountaintop
experiences. As the more mature woman, I realize all of life is worth
living…the good, the bad, and the in-between. The Lord uses all of our
experiences to grow us into caring people who can relate to others who have
similar issues. As I grow closer to Him, I am more aware that living in the
valley is living close with my Savior. He guides me each day. He uses me in
ways that I would never thought that I could be used. He allows me to encounter
people who need to know there is hope and a Savior who loves them in spite of
their past mistakes and current issues.
Enjoying The Mountaintop
God is gracious. While
we are enjoying mountaintop experiences, He is giving us a chance to refresh
and catch our breath. My problem with being on the mountaintop is that when I
get comfortable, I want to stay there where the air is clean and fresh and the
view is amazing. I don’t want to go back to the valley and struggle with life
issues again.
What about you? Have you learned to live in the
valley and enjoy the mountaintop? Let’s share life together through telling
your story.
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