“There are nettles everywhere, but smooth, green grasses are more common still; the blue of heaven is larger than the cloud.”
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning
This quotation is a great explanation of my feelings on life. I can often get discouraged or saddened by the simple trials or difficulties in life; however, I keep reminding myself to look past the bad “stuff” and open my eyes to the joys of life. God never promised us a bed of roses, but He did promise that He would never leave us nor forsake us. “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). The trials in life are lessons which help us to grow spiritually. When all else in your world has vanished, there is one place to turn.
The world has filled the minds of many into believing that there are places to turn to when things don’t go as planned. We have many distractions which oftentimes overpower the good places to turn. Sometimes we think of another way to solve our problems on our own, without the help of our Creator. This isn’t what He had planned for our lives!
I know that it is hard to look past the evil to find the good, but it is possible! “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). God gives us these trials to show us that we truly need to depend on Him. He is the only One who can see us through all of the good times along with the bad! You don’t have to be frightened to confess your fears to Him. He already knows them all. The requirement for you is to just make them known and He will answer all of your needs. Don’t make the mistake of running or fleeing to a corner when life seems tough! That isn’t the best solution, and, in the end, it will get you nowhere.
Another thing to remember is to not waste your entire lifetime on treasures in this world. We need to realize that everything of this world will one day pass away. It will all be gone. “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
If we only have the physical things to keep us happy, what are we going to do when they vanish? Will it really matter if we make a name for ourselves on this earth and are famous worldwide? Does that guarantee us a place in heaven? “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). The amount of money in our savings account isn’t going to pay our way to eternity with the One who breathed life into us. He won’t look at our physical appearance to see if we are FIT for heaven! These aren’t the important things in life!
Instead, we need to consider our own spiritual lives and see how we rate in that aspect.
“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Godliness is the only thing that is truly profitable in this life and the life to come.
How much do we truly care for those around us? Are we willing to lay down our lives for someone else? “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). How about sacrificing a few hours of our precious time to help someone in need? Remember, He paid the ultimate price to save our souls! It is the least we can do to return that favor unto Him! The prophets and disciples in the olden days were willing to be crucified for their beliefs. Are we truly that dedicated to Him, in order for us to proudly say, “Take my life, in order to prove my love!”? I don’t think that many would be able to stand and say those words. We must realize that our everyday trials in life are nothing compared to the torture that He dealt with while He was ministering on this earth.
When a cloud comes to block the sun, remember that heaven is on the other side! The blue of heaven is brighter and more powerful than any struggle that we may encounter in this lifetime! “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
