Rachel Hampton

Lows that bring highs May 13, 2010

Life is not a fairytale. Though it is filled with things that make your heart feel overwhelmed by the goodness and joy in it, we are only able to see how good life is because it is contrasted with the bad. No one can honestly say, “Oh I love it when Satan is attacking my life and everything seems to happen at once!” Those times are not fun, but they are necessary! For one thing, they make the good times a little bit sweeter. There is also this:

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:3-5

I don’t know about you, but when I come out the other side from those trials of life, I feel stronger. I feel more loved and protected by God. I find a new hope in his promises. I can feel him more closely and an intense appreciation for his faithfulness wells up in me.

This past week a few of those trials crept up on me and their remnants continue to surround me. Still, God never left me.  I was hurting. doubting. deflated. But I turned around there was God. I cried and he comforted me. I failed and he forgave me. I needed encouragement and he gave it. I still need those things, but there is a new joy in me. That even though some of those trials continue to stick around like those nasty cockroaches in my apt, I know who also is sticking around. My FATHER.

And last night as I thought through these things and started reading a psalm, the first verse jumped off the page at me. It was a reminder of how to live and then transformed into a truth that my heart could rejoice in.

Psalm 108:1

My heart is confident in you, O God;no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!

What a mighty God we serve! Praise Him today.