I Made It: Joy in the ValleySample

Day 3:

“I made it through more

Than I thought that I could

I walked through the worst

But it worked for my good

It’s a miracle that I can stand here and say

I made it.”

Have you ever wanted to just give up? Maybe it was on your job or on a friendship or maybe something completely different? We’ve been there. We recently talked with our friend Rita Springer on her podcast about these seasons where we felt like quitting. The pressure can feel so exhausting to be a certain way or do a certain thing - and it’s hard to keep up. Maybe you have been there too. Have you forgotten why you started doing a certain thing to begin with? Like the dream you had or what used to be so fun has withered away?

It’s seasons like these that have encouraged us to write the lyrics above. In the valleys, it can be so hard to see what God is doing. Yet, there is truth in the old adage that “hindsight is 20/20”; the Lord is always moving and working on something, even if we can’t see it.

Earlier in this devo series, we quoted Romans 8:28 and the concept of how God is always moving for our good. Just a few verses before this one, Paul digs in even deeper to present suffering and what to make of it, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us,” (v. 18 NIV).

Let’s just read that again: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us,” and how about you give us an ‘amen’?!

It’s easy to be so focused on the problem ahead of us or the valley beneath us that we forget to lift our eyes to Him, our Father and Maker. But Paul challenges us to look beyond our circumstances. When we lift our eyes to Jesus - everything changes!! And whether the glory to come is on earth or in heaven - it is a promise to us: everything will be worth it.

At the very end of the Bible, John writes about what is to come when Jesus returns, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4 NIV).

Whenever we feel like the suffering we are facing is too much, we are comforted by the hope found in this verse: things will not always be like this. There is so much more good to come! There will be a day where no more pain or suffering surrounds us and instead we will be able to walk freely in the peace of Christ. He will wipe our tears away. He will restore our broken souls and bodies.

There is still hope, friends. You will be able to say “I made it”. Take heart!