Fog in the Valley

There’s a lot of fog in the valley. The cool, damp air can get into our souls, blear the vision, smother hopes, muddle purpose and muffle calling. And though we know we are “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” we feel ever so alone; even our close companions feel distant. We hang our heads, and all we can see is step after step on the same worn path. Are we even moving? Will this valley ever turn to pleasant meadows, this mountain steep rise to passes grand? Oh, if we only knew…if we could only see from His view, such a hopeful scene we would behold.

He is beside us all the way.

He holds our weak hand in His own strong hand.

He gives angels charge to keep us, He enfolds us with His flock, He gives proof through His saints gone before of His enduring faithfulness.

With every slow and painful step, the mountain is ascended.

In every heaving sigh of effort, He gives us breath, He gives us life, He gives us strength in weakness.

Actually, we get to boast in our weakness. Because the greater our weakness, the more we get to be filled with the strength of Christ. And He will fill us.

Oh dear and weary soul, remember how much He loves you! Remember that He wants you to ask, that His heart is beating with mercy and tender kindness, that answering your cry is not only natural to your Father, it is His own desire!

And remember this, too – in the moments when you do not want to keep going, when reaching the goal seems less important, when hope flees and the want-to is gone – do it for Him. In a sense, we no longer matter. To Him, yes; but our goal is so much greater than the good of ourselves. Even when you can’t see how there could possibly be any good for your soul, do it for Him. Love Him that much, and show it by the steps you take, one after another after another.

He does love you. It is for your good. And in His love, you can really rest.

Photo by Louis Loth on Unsplash