Hills & Valleys

Public Service Announcement for the Gillson family:  We are closed to any major life events for the next year.  Ha!  Wouldn’t it be great if you could put a “time-out” on life for a moment?  Just time enough to catch your breath before the next major thing comes along.  Over the past few years I’ve gotten the impression that God must see me as a champion weight lifter because the load of stress I’ve been feeling has been building up my spiritual muscles big time.  Serving God in the good times is easy, but when we are faced with having to walk through the valleys of life do we serve Him with equal commitment?  It is something to be considered.  Our goal should be to remain steadfast in our love for God and to please Him in both the valleys and the hilltops. Keeping some foundational thoughts in mind can help direct our path.

• Pray – to seek patience and wisdom as well as praise God – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

• Look for opportunity – to grow in your faith – 2 Timothy 2:15, James 2:18

• Encourage others – sympathize and empathize – I Thessalonians 5:11, I Corinthians 12:25-26

• Accept – that God has our best interest in mind – Romans 8:28

• Serve – to show God’s love – 1 Peter 4:10, Galatians 5:13

• Expect –  that our prayers are heard and answered – 1 John 5:14-15

Serving God during the hard times works to build our endurance and draws us closer to God as we realize our need for Him.  If life were all hilltops and no valleys we would never fully appreciate the beautiful landscape of His love. 

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

James 1:2-4 (ESV)