“Tuesday Devo, April 21, 2015”

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

We need to be reminded sometimes that life really does take its toll on humans. For all the joy that we experience in Christ, all the bliss of knowing God's promises, and all the splendor of faith in his salvation... Even for all the beauty that can be in this life—becoming a new parent, starting a new romantic relationship, seeing someone you love accomplish his dreams...
With all of that, the fact of the matter is that we still live in a world that is broken. As long as there is sin, there will be death, sadness, bitterness, remorse, loss, broken hearts, depression, fear, and many other things that we've all experienced and tried to hide from.

I think comedians sometimes make the best philosophers. One said rather jokingly that, "Life is a roller coaster. It's a hill and then a valley. A high then a low. And Jesus never promised he'd bring us all good days. He said, 'I came to bring you life... MORE ABUNDANT!' That's bigger hills, y'all, but it's bigger valleys too."

If you're in one of those valleys, don't feel like you're the first one or that you're somehow less faithful or less spiritual than all the Christians you see on Sunday who've got it all put together... Chances are some of those "put-together" people are looking at you thinking, "I wish I was as put-together as he/she is."

The important thing is to stay focused on the Lord in the valleys. Don't just wait for the next hill. Stay focused on being his completely. Stay focused on "less of self and more of Thee." Stay focused on the one who has been over higher hills and through deeper valleys than any of us, and trust in his promise of more abundant life.

- Dan Lankford

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