Have you ever said, “I’m on cloud nine?” If you have, it is likely that something
wonderful happened in your life at the exact moment you uttered these
words. Perhaps you heard the words,
“You’re hired!” or “It’s a Girl (or Boy)!” or “Will you marry me?” And you likely remember the date, time, and
location where this special event in your life took place. But, what about all of the days, months, and
years leading up to this exhilarating moment?
Undoubtedly, you experienced some highs and lows, and maybe even some disappointments
along the way. Still, you eventually arrived
at the moment where you reached the destination on your journey – cloud nine.
When I think about the journeys we take in life, I have
come to realize that there are many similarities between our day-to-day
experiences and those of many reality television show contestants. Their journey through various challenges is
not unlike our journey through life, with its many highs and lows. At times, contestants may make a mistake or
encounter an unexpected detour. Along
their journey, they make good decisions and bad ones. Yet, one team always prevails and finishes the
journey victorious, having made it to their “cloud nine” experience – being
proclaimed the winner of the competition.
Showing posts with label narrow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label narrow. Show all posts
Our lives bear a striking resemblance to these programs,
in that our lives are also a journey.
While we are not striving to win $1,000,000 or the title of sole Survivor, there are many daily
challenges that we must face. For
instance, in the business world, everyone wants to get ahead. Instead of clues, they attend “power lunches”
to try to get to the next rung on their way to the top of the ladder of
success. And a mistake may not cost them
their lead position in a competition, but it may cost them a promotion, their
job, or even their reputation. But in
the end, there will be those who make good decisions and find their way to the
“cloud nine” they are searching for, such as a promotion or increase in salary.
Personally, I find that the journey to cloud nine can be
quite difficult. Now, I am not talking
about the end of a race, or even recognition in the workplace. I am talking about this journey we call
life. And no, we’re not truly searching
for cloud nine. But, we are on a journey
to eternity. This journey is very
difficult at times. While we may have
joyous times to celebrate, there may be other times when sorrow fills our
hearts. We may hear the words “You’re
Fired” or “You’ve had a miscarriage” or “We’re getting a divorce” instead of
the words above. During these times, God
will bring you peace. He will remind you
of the cloud nine that you seek. And He
will help you move toward your goal, filling your heart with joy once more.
There are times when it would be easier to just
quit. Or it may be tempting to follow a
different path. God’s Word says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that
leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many” (Matthew 7:13 ESV).
It might seem easier to travel down the
wide road, at least for a little while. Inevitably,
though, you will find that this road leads to great disappointment. The decision to travel down this road leads to
a dead end – Hell. If you’re on this
road, I want to strongly encourage you to turn around. It’s not too late. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. Ask Him for directions to cloud nine. Follow His steps and don’t look back. You will be on a journey like no other, never
seen on television. God can do more than
you ever imagined, and I can assure you, His dreams for your life are truly
incomprehensible!
Every day, I continually strive to put one foot in front
of the other on my journey to cloud nine.
In my life, I have experienced many ups and downs. Some have been minor, such as the
disappointment of a missed visit with a friend, and some have been major, such
as the saddening loss of my mom. Still,
I know that God will be with me in every circumstance. He will give me strength when I am weary, joy
when I am sad, and hope when I feel hopeless.
The road I am traveling on may be straight and narrow, but God is
leading the charge. Won’t you join me on
this direct route to the ultimate “cloud nine” – Heaven? The journey to cloud nine may be challenging,
but just wait until you see the view from the top!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
In reality, life is a lot like riding a horse. If we get knocked down, we have to stand back up again. If we find ourselves with our face in the dirt, we must find the courage to get up, wash the dirt off, and move on. And if we fall into a situation that we cannot get out of on our own, we need to call on Jesus to help us. Sometimes, we need to simply avoid the horse altogether. When you look at the parallel between riding a horse and living life, there are times when it is not always in our best interest to get back on the horse. For there will likely be a pivotal moment in all of our lives when all we really need to do is get off the horse.
Let’s look at the world of equines. Would you choose to ride a bucking bronco, or would you prefer a trail ride on a well-trained thoroughbred? Unless you are a member of the rodeo circuit, you would probably prefer a nice, relaxing ride on a gentle horse. Surely, there would be less chance of you falling off the horse if you chose the latter. Even if you wear a helmet, boots, and all of the appropriate safety gear, there still exists the possibility of sustaining an injury. Either option comes with some risk involved. Yet, by choosing the tamer horse, you can greatly decrease the likelihood of suffering a serious injury. One wise choice could essentially be the difference between life and death.
We are faced with similar choices in life. We may see the bucking bronco as the glamorous or adventurous option, failing to see the danger that awaits. This “bucking bronco” could represent any decision we make in life. It could be a decision to drink and drive, take drugs, or abuse a child or spouse. Or it could represent a choice to consistently slander someone, ignore a relative or long-time friend, or hold a grudge against a friend or family member. Because of our inability to see the consequences of our choice, we may encounter unexpected hurdles. Each time we jump over a hurdle, we may fall off the horse. Still, get back on the horse and persevere, hoping things get better. We repeatedly get back on the horse, only to find that things get worse instead.
There are many temptations in this world. Satan wants to ensure that you have every opportunity to take advantage of them, and he will stop at nothing to make sure you focus on the bucking broncos of life. He does not want you to choose the straight and narrow path, but instead, he wants you to choose to travel down the wide road of destruction (Matthew 7:13). Much like the bucking bronco, this path may seem alluring. You may fantasize about what it would like to experience the thrill, but once you are on that horse, you may get bucked off and find yourself crumpled on the ground. That thrill may cause you to get back on the horse. But if you want to live your life, you need to get off the horse.
In reality, there are times when we shouldn’t get on the horse in the first place. But if you find yourself on a bucking bronco, hold on tight until you find a safe place to dismount the horse. And if you fall off, God will be there to pick you up and carry you along. Psalm 145:13-14 (NIV) says, “The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The LORD upholds all who fall.” Trust in the Lord today. He will never disappoint you. He has your best interest at heart. He knows how to avoid the dangers of bucking broncos on the path of destruction, and He can show you how to enjoy a smooth ride on the straight and narrow path.
God wants us to make wise decisions. He gives us the freedom to choose our own paths, but He hopes that we will always have our best interest at heart. When we find ourselves sitting atop a wild horse, getting bucked off consistently, we need to ask God to guide us to a place of safety. Inevitably, the first thing we need to do is to get off of the horse and then stay off the horse. Getting back on will only result in further disappointments in life. Don’t be disappointed with life. Look to God, the One who will never disappoint you. No matter how many times you have fallen off the horse, God will take your brokenness and make you whole.
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer