He Has Been There Beside Us Through It All …

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.  Though he should fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His right hand. I have been young and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken …” (Psalm 37:23-25a)

I have had the opportunity to fly over the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Smokey Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and even the Great Tetons … from 25 to 39k feet. What a wonderful privilege!

But I have also had the privilege of driving through those same Blue Ridge, Smokey, and the Rocky Mountains … and there is a world of difference in flying over them and looking down … to driving through them!

Descending down into the various valleys one can still see the tops of the mountains but experience what is down at the bottom of those majestic creations of God!

Isn’t it that way in our lives? We’ve probably had our share of those ‘mountain moments’ … and they are special, often exhilarating, and are occasions producing great memories.

  • The thrill of saying “I do” to the one you love and pledge your life and love to.
  • The thrill of holding the little baby God has blessed you with for the very first time … their soft touch, the smell only a baby offers … and the gratitude to our God for the blessing!
  • All through our children’s growing up years … there are those moments … and then when they get married what joy … followed by the birth of a precious grandchild!
  • Yes … our God is so good, isn’t He?

But there are those other moments we would like to forget or to push back as far in our memory bank as we can, aren’t there? Just the thought alone of these ‘valley moments’ is enough to consider.

We learn in life and living that there can be so many questions that arise and we’re just not certain of the correct answer … and they can and do become very unsettling.

And like the words to the old hymn suggest: ‘I’ve had many tears and sorrows, I’ve had questions for tomorrow, and there have been times I didn’t know right from wrong.’  Can you relate to these words? Have you at some time or another even thought or spoken these words?

God knew we would need guidance to walk through this journey in such a way as to please Him and bring honor and glory to His name. And it becomes more obvious to us that He was there all along, providing the guidance, direction, and the light to make it through whatever the trial … even stronger in our faith. (James 1:2-4)

The Psalmist says it this way, “Through your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:104, 105)

Have we learned how to trust in the Lord and in His holy and inspired word? Have we learned that His word is truth (John 17:17) and it will never change, regardless of how or what men may try to affect some sort of change to fit their preference (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:25!

Are we allowing ourselves to imitate the brethren of the Thessalonian congregation of whom the apostle Paul writes, “For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God which also effectively works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Our young people need to know, as they see and hear how we talk, act, and react to life’s uncertainties … that it is God who has helped and is helping us even now … to live and walk through all of life … knowing, believing, exhibiting … our complete trust in Him!

I believe with all of my heart, soul, and mind … that I have learned to depend upon the Lord and His word. I am thankful for the mountains and the valleys of this life, and for all the different storms of life that He, yes He … not me … has brought me through!

And I have learned in a very personal way this to be so:  if I had lived a life without any problems … how would I know that it is He and He alone who can help me through them all?

You see … we all need to be reminded of what true faith in God can do for each of us in every area of our lives! What a wonderful blessing to be living in God’s favor and to “walk as children of light!”

There is a wonderful phrase spoken by God through Moses to the tribe of Asher just prior to the death of God’s faithful servant, “… As your days, so shall your strength be.” (Deuteronomy 33:25)

With each new morning that God grants to us, let us thank Him for the new day … and let us ask Him to help us use that day wisely and for His glory … and to enjoy each day as a gift to be enjoyed!

 

Bill Fairchild, Jr.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates.

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply