“Beauty Beyond the Struggle”
By Rev. Everett R. Kimble, Sr.
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.—1 Corinthians 2:9-10
A little way outside of Denver Colorado, way up in the Rocky Mountains there is a spot where you can look out over part of the Great Divide. For me, it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, and one I try to visit whenever I am in Colorado, but it is a long, tedious trip getting there. I have only visited in the winter, and the roads are often icy and narrow, so slow and steady is the safest speed. The “Danger Falling Rocks” signs are eye openers, and just about the last mile of the journey requires a ride on a snowmobile, but for me, the joy and the beauty of the destination are well worth the trip and the trouble.
The life of the believer is filled with beautiful moments, and the hope and anticipation of settling forever in Heaven is the ultimate prize, but much like the journey to that spot in the Rocky Mountains, the road is tedious and full of trouble. The struggle of the journey is what causes many of us to lose our drive and determination because living holy gets hard and it’s easy to take our focus off of the beautiful places and began to focus on the trouble, but we cannot give up. God has many great things planned for us and believe it or not, the rough places and the struggle are part of what makes the great thing such a great thing.
I have to admit that on the first trip up the mountain there were a few instances I wanted to turn around, but I am glad I didn’t. The thing that I remember the most is not the bad spots on the road, but standing in that space with my family and looking out across The Great Divide. So here is my encouragement for you today, just when you feel as if you can’t take it anymore and everything is telling you to turn around and give up, that’s when you know your beautiful place is just around the corner.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” Keep pressing you are almost there. Have a wonderfully blessed Tuesday.
