Life in the Plains

I took down my Christmas decorations and tree today, and it got me thinking about where most of our life is spent. The hype for Christmas is real and long. If you read my last post, you know I had a hard time getting into the hype, but most of the country did not. And then, just like that, Christmas is over and we are preparing to ring in a new year. So as much as we look forward to different seasons, we are quickly reminded it's not where we spend most of our lives.

Our lives are lived in the plains and not the hills and valleys. As a Texan, I can tell you that the plains can be pretty boring. We go to the valley to retreat or rest. We go to the hill or mountain top to celebrate and rejoice. But these are not the places we spend most of our lives. Most of our lives are spent on a journey through the plains. A walk on flatland with not much around to look at.

But I think this is where faithfulness grows. In the plains is where trusting God is imperative. We will never reach the hill or the valley without walking through the plains. We encounter people on this journey through the plains, and God has purpose in that. We go through routines in the plains. These routines that seem meaningless and/or mundane, yes even these have a purpose, if only we will ask God what it is. In the plains is where we rejoice in hope.

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"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Romans 5:2
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It is in the plains that we demonstrate our faith as we hope for the glory of God to be revealed, and yet, not yet. Those that we pass in the plains need to see this hope in us. A real hope demonstrated, because they are longing for the same hope. What if you were to never reach the mountain top here on earth, but only in heaven? Is your hope still real? Is the struggle still worth it? Yes. Always yes.
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"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Romans 8:18

​Some people will experience the mountain top multiple times on earth, others perhaps never. This is not what we hope for. What we hope for is eternal, the unseen.

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Colossians 3:1-2

My encouragement to you today is to find your hope again, or maybe for the first time. Don't hope in the "thing" that is your earthly mountain top. That will fade and eventually you will be back to the journey in the plains. The real hope is in Jesus and the eternal life that he freely gives, should you decided to accept it. 

Though our journey changes, He never does. (Hebrews 13:8)

When you realize this hope, you will journey in the plains with a new vision. The miles may still feel long, but with a restored hope you will journey with more purpose. You will see grace all around you. And when you experience this real hope and unending grace, you will share it with those on the journey with you. You proclaim it even when you don't feel it, and then watch as God makes it so.

I need this message more and more each day and hope it gives you the encouragement you need to keep moving, and never stop growing. ​​​