Life is filled with many ups and downs. And, like Elijah, one moment we might feel on top of the world, and in the very next we’re lonely and desperate. Our challenge is to hold both of these experiences in proper balance.
On the one hand, God has created us to do certain things well. And it feels good whenever there’s a chance for this glory to shine through. It’s a mountaintop high when we’re doing what we were created to do and we get to witness some of its immediate impact on others. All of our hard work and effort seems like nothing compared to this goodness God is bringing in the world through us.
And, if it was up to us, we’d be tempted to stay on these mountaintop experiences forever. But this is not how life works. And valleys often quickly follow our mountaintops.
We’re very aware of our shortcomings in the valley. Perhaps it seems like everyone else has found his place in life but us. And we start to question if we truly have something meaningful to offer. These moments are dark and isolating. We feel undone, unworthy, and unable to belong and make a difference.
To be sure, it’s on the mountaintops that we remember the glory that is ours to reveal. And without these moments we’re prone to forget our dignity and diminish the power of our light in the world.
At the same time, it’s the valleys that keep us humble. We’re reminded it’s by God’s grace we’re able to accomplish the good we do. And we often have to quiet our souls down long enough to hear his still small voice and feel his presence even in the valley.
In the end, don’t let the mountaintops go to your head nor the valleys kill your heart. Allow them both to minister to you in their own way – reminding you of your glory to reveal while also keeping you humble.
Photo by John Fowler on Unsplash
