Hey Gang: Do you know what I am talking about when I mention the phrase, “Ups and Downs”? I believe most would agree that life is filled with its ups and downs. Wise King Solomon certainly did (Ecc. 3:1-4).
Solomon’s
daddy, David, was called a man after God’s own heart (I Sam 13:4, Acts
13:22). Yet, David’s life was a perfect example of one whose life was
filled with ups and downs, all of his own making.
Would you say he was a man of mixed emotions? He wept over the loss of his and Bathsheba’s first born (Sam. 12:22), which was conceived in sin. Yet we read that he also wrote songs of praise and “….his mouth was filled with laughter and his tongue with joyful shouting” (Ps. 126:1-3).
Would you say he was a man of mixed emotions? He wept over the loss of his and Bathsheba’s first born (Sam. 12:22), which was conceived in sin. Yet we read that he also wrote songs of praise and “….his mouth was filled with laughter and his tongue with joyful shouting” (Ps. 126:1-3).
All the
time? No! When Absalom rebelled against his daddy, with the intent
of becoming king in his place, David “agonized
in deep mourning” (2 Sam. 18:33).
But when the Ark was brought to Jerusalem, “David was dancing before the Lord with all
of his might, and was wearing a linen ephod” (2 Sam. 6:14), much to the
chagrin of his wife. (2 Sam 6:12-15).
Confession time: If I were able to see my life charted on a graph with highs and lows, I would find that when I trusted in the Lord and placed Him first in all that I said and did, I would find myself on the top of the graph but in those times when I said, "Okay Lord, I’ll take it from here” I would find myself on the bottom of the graph.
We do a dis-service to ourselves, and others, when we portray the Christian life as peaceful and happy all the time. Instead, the Bible portrays the believer's life as one being filled with ups and downs, but the ‘joy of the Lord’ always available.
Soooo, in what season are you? No matter where you are in your life graph, the way out of the doldrums is to seek the Lord with all your heart and place your trust Him. But keep in mind, that it is in the ups and downs that we see God come along side and “smooth’ the road. After 82 years of ups and down, I strongly recommend you take the “high road”.
Confession time: If I were able to see my life charted on a graph with highs and lows, I would find that when I trusted in the Lord and placed Him first in all that I said and did, I would find myself on the top of the graph but in those times when I said, "Okay Lord, I’ll take it from here” I would find myself on the bottom of the graph.
We do a dis-service to ourselves, and others, when we portray the Christian life as peaceful and happy all the time. Instead, the Bible portrays the believer's life as one being filled with ups and downs, but the ‘joy of the Lord’ always available.
Soooo, in what season are you? No matter where you are in your life graph, the way out of the doldrums is to seek the Lord with all your heart and place your trust Him. But keep in mind, that it is in the ups and downs that we see God come along side and “smooth’ the road. After 82 years of ups and down, I strongly recommend you take the “high road”.
Blessings,
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