Into the Clouds

Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Isaiah 40:9

D.L. MOODY
A traveler once made arrangements with a guide to take him to the top of a high mountain to see the sunrise. They had not journeyed long when there arose a terrible thunderstorm. “It’s no use to go on,” the gentlemen said. “We cannot see the sunrise in the midst of this fearful storm.” “O, sir,” said the guide, “we shall soon get above the storm.” They could see the lightning playing about them, and the grand old mountain shook with the thunder, and it was very dark; but when they passed up above the clouds, all was light and clear. So, if it is dark here, rise higher; it is light enough up around the throne. If I may rise up to the light, I have no business to be in darkness. Rise higher, higher, higher. It is the privilege of the child of God to walk on unclouded.

ERWIN LUTZER
What if God wanted to take us where we have never been before—a whole new level of devastation and suffering most of us have never experienced? As Moody said, when we are in darkness, we must rise to the light. The goal of life is not to try to figure out how to live an extra day. The goal of life is to glorify Jesus no matter what situation we are in or what is happening around us. That’s why we must ascend to the throne, As Paul said, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), and so the big C in our lives is not calamity or cancer; the big C in our lives is Christ. He is the good news.

PRAYER
Father, when I am scared and don’t know what to do, grant me the strength to persevere in you.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Read James 1:2-4. To what degree do you view trials and difficulties in this way?

In the last year, how have you matured in God’s strength to trust Him during difficulty?