Do you ever wake up with a song in your head? I’m not a music-obsessed person who constantly has music playing in the background if given the option (like my dear husband). In fact, I usually just prefer silence so I can think more clearly. I enjoy music when I’m in the mood, don’t get me wrong. In fact, I have a shockingly wide variety of taste in music. When I’m doing a task that requires a lot of thought or if I just need to think through some things whether it is my daily schedule or something a little more deep, I can’t concentrate with music in the background. I start singing along in my head and just can’t grasp my thought chain. But every now and then, God wakes me up through a song on my heart.
For a good number of years, on the anniversary of my dad’s death, I woke up with “This is the Day That The Lord Has Made,” playing through my mind. A strange song, some would say, for such an occasion. But I’ll tell you one thing- I needed the reminder that every day the Lord gives us is a day to rejoice and be glad. Even on the tough days that are marked by heavy loss, we have so much to be grateful for. Each day that we have been given the gift of breath, we are given fuel to live a life of purpose. That’s something to celebrate.
Sunday morning, I woke up with the song, “Mountain of God,” by Third Day echoing through my soul. The lyrics rang in my mind, “Even though the journey’s long and I know the road is hard…well, the One who’s gone before me, He will help me carry on. After all that I’ve been through, now I realize the truth: that I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain of God.”
I’ve been through several big valleys in my life. I bet you have too. During one of the biggest valleys of my life, I finally started reading the devotional, Streams in the Desert,” by L.B. Cowman. The title alone marks what I experience each time I’m in a valley or desert: thirst. If you go thirsty long enough in a desert, you either die or eventually come to a source of water. When you get a drink in the dry, desolate places of life, the water is so much more meaningful and quenching than in spots free of strife but gushing with plenty.
Yesterday, I stumbled across a scripture passage, which resonates with experiences I’ve encountered amidst seasons packed with uncertainties and waiting:
“We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” (Psalm 33:20-22)
Mac Powell preaches truth each time his raspy voice bellows out the lyrics to “Mountain of God”. The journey is long. The road is hard. BUT. There’s one who has gone before us. Jesus. He will help us carry on. He has given us much to rejoice over and much to hope for. He has helped us and protected us. He has proven that He is trustworthy.
And while we wait, His unfailing love rests upon us. The reason we can rejoice even while we wait through times overflowing with uncertainties is because of one certainty: He loves us. Love always plans for the best. His love is perfect, so we can rest in the comfort of His good plans for our lives. Remember? His love is UNFAILING.
The valleys are hard to handle. But Christ has trail blazed through every one of them. He knows the way through the canyons of life. You may feel alone while you’re traveling through, but you’re not. The one who cut the paths through the ravines comes back to rescue those who are tripping over the treacherous terrain.
Take heart, friend. Even though the journey’s long and the road is hard, the one who went before you will help you carry on. You will climb that mountain before you and reach the summit. When you get to the apex, you’ll look at the panorama that surrounds you and realize you never could have reached this glorious spot if you hadn’t climbed through territory charted by non-other than the Mountain Maker Himself.