Light at the End of the Tunnel

Tunnel on the Sparta-Elroy Bike Trail, image from google

This week I went on a bike trip with the jr. high youth group. We biked thirty-some miles through beautiful countryside. The sky was blue above us, and the rolling hills around us were a gorgeous green. It was a gift to bike through God's creation! Along the trail we were biking there were also three tunnels that you had to walk your bike through. The first day of biking we only went through one tunnel, and it wasn't terribly long. The second day, however, we went through two tunnels. The second tunnel was the longest one, almost a mile long. 

When we got to the entrance to that tunnel, it didn't look too long. We could see the light at the other end. 

Once we started walking our bikes through the tunnel, though, I realized how far away the light at the end was. It seemed like we had been walking for a while, and yet we didn't seem any closer to reaching the other side. It was so dark that I couldn't see the ground beneath my feet. (It really put the phrase "walk by faith, not by sight!" into practice for me) 

The only light I could see as I walked was the light straight ahead of me, at the end of the tunnel. It was dark, and the tunnel seemed so long. 

Isn't life like that sometimes? 

Sometimes life is hard, really hard. Sometimes it's so dark that you can't see two steps in front of you, let alone what's just up ahead. While I was walking through the tunnel in the dark, listening to the drip drop of water, feeling the cold droplets on my skin, the verse that popped into my head was from Psalm 23. 

Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." 

I was reminded as I walked through the darkness of the tunnel that God is with me even in the darkest days. Even when I can't see where I'm walking, can't see the ground I'm stepping on to, God is there. He hasn't let go. 

As I walked through the tunnel towards the light at the other end, I found myself encouraged. 

In the darkest days, and in the pain-filled hours, God is there. Not only is He walking with you through the darkness, but He has placed light at the end of the tunnel to guide you. The light at the end gives you hope. 

Hope. 

That's what I saw each time I looked at the light at the end of the tunnel. 

I saw hope. 

Hope that the darkness would end. 
Hope that I would see the light of day again. 
Hope that the sun would be shining on my face in just a little bit. 

Again, isn't life like that? Yes, we have dark days, and there is pain. Oh so much pain. Sometimes it seems like we are in the middle of a dark, never-ending tunnel. 

But I promise you, there is a light at the end. 

There is hope. 

Hope in Christ alone. 

He is the Light at the end of the tunnel. 

Walk towards Christ, for in Him is true Light. 
Walk through the darkness, knowing that God is with you, even in the "darkest valley." 
There is light at the end of the tunnel. 

Be All There

I've known this quote for a while, but this summer it means so much more to me. A few months ago I wrote it out and put it up on my wall, but then I kind of forgot about it for a little while... A few days ago I was reminded of it again. 

Picture from google images 

"Wherever you are, be all there."

I'm at a place in life where I didn't think I'd be. The past year has changed a lot of things in my life, there've been a lot of sorrows and a lot of joys. If you had asked me a year ago where I'd be now/what I'd be doing, my answer probably wouldn't have been where God has me now.

This summer has been crazy, busy, tiring, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming. (But I have to add, it's also been fun, stretching, joyful, and exciting!) It's been easy at times to wish the summer away, wanting autumn to come and things to slow down. It's been easy to think that my life hasn't really started yet, that things will "fall into place" or really  "start" when I reach the next milestone, or when the next big thing comes along. It's been so easy to fall into the habit of wishing for the next stage in my life to come.

"Wherever you are, be all there."

The reason I love this quote, the reason why it resonates with me so much, is that it reminds me to slow down, to BE where God has placed me.

Because if I'm wishing for the next season in my life, if I'm just waiting for the next big thing, then I'm not living in and enjoying the gift of the season God has placed me in RIGHT NOW. I don't want to miss the things that God has in store for this season of my life, the things He wants me to learn and the ways He wants me to grow, just because I'm anxious for the next season.

I want to BE ALL THERE in the place that God has placed me. I want to be focused on Him, and on doing what He wants me to do, wherever He has me at the time being.

Matthew 6:34 says "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." I think that this command, given by Jesus, also applies to this. We are commanded to not worry about tomorrow. If we are not worrying about tomorrow, then that means we are focused on the today, on where God has us now. We can't accomplish anything for His kingdom if we are constantly worrying about the future. {Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't plan, or be excited about the future, etc., but I think sometimes we can get too caught up in what is coming, instead of enjoying the present, enjoying the gift of today. Also, I am in no way saying that we shouldn't be looking ahead to Jesus' return, because that is one thing that we definitely SHOULD be looking ahead to with excitement and anticipation. (: }

I've noticed that I don't enjoy each day as much if I am constantly thinking about and worrying about the future, or what the next season will bring. However, if I stop wishing away today, I start noticing the blessings that God has placed in each day.

Elisabeth Elliot wrote, "The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances." 

If my attitude about today, about the season God has me in right NOW, isn't a good, God-honoring one, then what makes me think that it would be any better in a future season? The secret is Christ, not my circumstances. 

I choose to be all in, all there, today, in this season, right where God has placed me. Because He is good, He is faithful, and I trust in His Sovereignty and His plan. I want to live life for the Lord, live life to the fullest, and live a life enjoying the gift of each day. 

If I am not seeking God today, not making the most of today, not choosing joy TODAY, then I am wasting a gift that God has given me: the gift of today. 

"Wherever you are, be all there."