WHERE ARE YOU?

 Where Are You?

by, Michelle Gaines

    I heard it said the other day that we are in one of three places in our lives. We are either in the midst of going through something, coming out of something, or we are about to head into something.  However, I believe that there is a fourth place we find ourselves in and that is the mountain top experience. 

     You know that place where you have just come through something, and you finally feel like you can breathe again. That place of rest where we can lie down and enjoy the view for a while. The view is beautiful, it's so peaceful on the mountain top, you finished that climb that seemed to be exhausting every which way you turned. So, now you can rest.  

            Oh, how I wish we could stay in that mountain top experience.  There is no strife, no trials because those were down below, and I've already come through them.  The problem with the mountain top experience is we don't grow there. We don't grow in our comfort zone. We grow in the valley.

    Have you ever noticed that in the valley you have lots of wildlife? That's where you find those beautiful hidden meadow. So, we head back to the valley for the next journey to uncover the hidden gems in our life. To build our character while removing things that don't belong in us. 

    The valley can be painful. Those trials we face whatever they may be. They hurt and sometimes we want to throw our hands up and say, "that's enough, I'm done, I quit!". Yeah, I've been there too, oh so many times. You know they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  I swear I have often said, well if that's the case I should be able to bench press a Buick. However, I have to remind myself that quitting is not an option. 

    So, here are something we all can remember and hold onto no matter what part of the journey we are on in our lives:

• First, if God has brought you to something, then He will lead you through it. He didn't bring you this far to abandon you now.  He has not left you alone.  It says, "God is with you wherever you go" Joshua 1:9. 
• Second, if you are in the midst of going through something right now, remember the key word in that is through.  You are going through something, not pitching a tent to camp or take up residence in the midst of it but through it. Meaning you are and will come out the other side no matter how it might look right now. Remember, "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning" Psalms 30:5.  Your morning is coming and just around the bend hold on.
• And lastly, when you come out the other side that you have a testimony from the test you have been through. That testimony is so important. "We are overcomers by our testimony and the blood of the lamb". Revelations 12:11. There are others that need to hear your testimony of what you have been through.  It is so easy for us to lose focus while we are in the midst and think that we are the only one that feels this way or that is going through this.  When we share our testimony and experience with others, it gives them hope that wait I'm not the only one that is or has gone through this. So, if they made it through then I can make it through. I don't know about you, but I don't just want to be a survivor, I want to be an overcomer. 

    So, let's be that encouragement that someone needs today. Lord knows there is enough negativity and discouragement in this world to last us a lifetime.  Be that ear to just listen (sometimes that's all someone needs is for someone to listen and hear them), or be that shoulder to cry on and give them that hug that they need.  

    Be an encourager and not a discourager. The choice is yours.

Until next time, be blessed!