Advent: Waiting on God's PromisesSample

Keeping perspective...

Hiking a mountain can be an incredible experience! At the beginning of the journey, you can see the amazing vista of the whole mountain and the summit in front of you! You know where you are headed – you know it will be tough, but there is so much zeal and passion that you are assured you will surely make it!

However, when there is a change in the terrain and the path gets steep or rocky, and you lose sight of the summit as you traverse the intricacies of the trail, the journey takes on a different view. You know the destination is surely up ahead – but you just can’t see it.

In life, waiting can feel like climbing a mountain. We have an idea of where we are going, but when our way gets blurred and we lose sight of where we are headed, the challenges really set in.

How do we keep our perspective when our way doesn’t seem clear?

In Lamentations, Jeremiah gives us some insight into how we can keep perspective. Perspective is not about seeing the destination – sometimes it is about reminding ourselves that it hasn’t changed, even though our view has.

Remembering the character of God in times of challenge is just like that. He is our ultimate goal. His character does not change. He is forever faithful. We find our peace and strength as we hold onto him. As we remember his goodness to us, we can lean into his daily grace.

Take a moment and consider the characteristics of God you have seen in your life. Reflect on joys and hardships, and how God has met you uniquely in each one. Make a list, speak them out loud. Now take a moment and pray for each of those characteristics in your current life situations. Pray that God might be who you know Him to be in the midst of you not seeing the way ahead.

Prayer

"Lord, I am grateful that your mercies never fail. Continue to help me see you each day and walk in the truth of who you are, Amen."