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christian journey, how to love the journey, loving the journey, trust, walk with Christ, walking with Jesus
A friend of mine on Facebook posted this beautiful picture with this caption: “Sometimes you have to walk a little farther to get a better view.”
Isn’t that so true? We can be in a place of discouragement, but as we keep hanging on to our Savior’s hand, we eventually end up in a place of beauty.
Why are we surprised? After all, it’s exactly what God says will happen. Isaiah 61:1-3 says, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify Him.”
When we go a little farther, our God exchanges a bad view for a great view, a muddled outlook for clarity, mourning for festive oil, captivity for freedom…the list goes on and on. All we have to do is just go a little farther.
As many of you know, my husband and I love to hike. Put some dirt under our feet and we are happy people. I especially love when our destination includes a waterfall.
This past summer, my man and I decided to take a 9 1/2 mile hike that included a massive waterfall. Trekking in, all became worthwhile when we started to hear the roar and then see the utterly spectacular view of this incredible creation. Trekking back out? Well, that didn’t hold the same appeal. Going in, we could say, “Just a little farther and we get to see the Falls.” Going out, all we would see was the parking lot…which eventually began to have its own appeal.
On life’s journey, we don’t know what’s around the bend. We don’t know what the year, or even next month will bring, but when we are abiding in Christ, we know sometimes we have to walk a little farther to get a better view. We know when we hold the hand of Jesus, whether it’s a waterfall, or a parking lot, an even better view is coming.
Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.”
Psalm 27:13 says, “I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living.”
How could the Psalmist be so sure? He was sure because he had walked just a little farther. He was certain he would see the Lord’s goodness on this earth because he simply kept taking the next step of faith. He was hand in hand with His Savior, straining to see the better view that he knew was coming. He had faith that God had come to him to set him free and change all his despair into realized hope. He just had to walk a little farther.
So, if your year is starting out great, or not so great, you can know that when you go a little farther with Jesus the view will always get better.
Keep hanging on to Him, dear one, strain to see the better view, knowing that you “will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.”
** Thank you Cindy Osborne for the picture and caption.
