Some days it seems like we are on top of the world, and yet other days, we feel like we’re at the bottom of the deepest pit. The Bible scriptures confirm that idea. It talks about the low valleys and high mountains., falling down and getting back up.
Being on a high mountain is really awesome. It’s the best, isn’t it? It’s like, you’re there.
You can see all the distance of all the land and all the other mountains and everything pales in comparison. You feel invincible. Like you can’t fall. Like you’ll never go through a valley again.
But you do.
Because no one can stay on a mountain top forever. No one can have that perfect kind of life long term. We all stumble and fall.
So what do you do when you fall down?
When You Fall Down
I’m thankful when I’m on top of a mountain….so, incredibly thankful. But when you are on a mountain top, do you forget about the presence of God? Do you start getting boastful, prideful, start taking away God’s glory and make it all about you? I do. I think that if we are honest, it’s hard NOT to.
The saying goes, “What goes up, must come down.” And I believe it.
I’ve learned a lot this week. I’ve learned about the human condition in a more up-close and personal way. I’ve learned about trust, some that I thought I could trust, I couldn’t, and yet others I didn’t even know their names, I found in them great honor and integrity. I’ve learned that many people flock to those who seem to be on a mountain, and they leave you, when you’re in a valley.
For that reason, I’m thankful for valleys. It’s so easy on a mountain to forget about God, forget why you started doing something in the first place, and get caught up in the hype and glory of being on a mountain.
I can say with confidence, that the past few months have been such a crazy time for me. I’ve been blogging a few years now and have gotten up to 1.7 million in traffic a month. But I can also say, that when I was that high in stats, I prayed God would take it away!
I laugh when I say that. I know how absolutely CRAZY it sounds. I’ve been working so hard – for so long to provide for my family. It’s what I want, right?
What do you do, when you get exactly what you want? Do you pray God takes it away? Crazy, right….
Here’s the thing. In the valley, I KNOW who I am. When I have less traffic, I don’t get so caught up in the whirlwind of being “internet famous.” I know that I am a feeble sinner. A child of God. I know that I am me and I have no doubt of who I am or who my friends are.
Life is simple.
My eyes are fully fixed on God’s purpose, on His will, and serving others. That’s it.
But on the mountain top, I started worrying about other people liking me. I mean really, who doesn’t want to be liked? I begin to take my focus off Christ. I start thinking most about MY hopes, MY dreams, MY goals, what I want in life, not His will for me, but my own.
The Bible says that we are to put off any encumbrances that inhibit us, so that we can run this race of life and come to the end of it being faithful. I ask God to put me back in the valley, where I had my full gaze on Him and not myself.
If my success makes me take my eyes off God, my focus on the One that saved me, then I don’t want it!
Take it away from me. I don’t want that kind of pressure to live up to someone else’s standards. I don’t want to worry about if others like me, who I can trust and who I can’t. I want to live my life for God’s glory, not mine and in order to do that, my eyes need to be completely fixed on His. Not wavering, not looking around.
As a blogger, you get to see my heart. You see the ebb and the flow of my life. You see me, but you know what else I hope you see? I hope you see God. Because if you don’t, then I’d rather die now and go straight to Hell. If you look at my life and you don’t see God, then I am a horrible Christian, not fit for the Kingdom!
My prayer today is that God forgive me in those times when I forget Him, take my eyes off of Him and put it on me. My prayer today is that God use me to be the woman that He wants me to be, not the woman that I want to be.
What is your prayer, my friend? Are you willing to sacrifice YOUR dreams for HIS?
I pray that you join me and say, “YES!”
This world is so corrupt. It NEEDS a light on a hill. It needs salt. If we as Christians are not doing that, then our lives are not being used for what we were created to do.
Following Christ isn’t easy. In fact, it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do. Christians are persecuted and suffer more than any other. But in the end…when I stand before my gracious and heavenly King, I want Him to say to me, “You have fought the good fight. Enter into the joy of the Lord.” As hard as it is, here on Earth, THAT will make everything worth it.
Are you salt? Are you light?
If you are ever reading this post, and you see me slipping off track (and we all do it) then PLEASE hold me accountable. Email me, contact me, message me, tell me. I pray that you join me in prayer for all those that are salt and light of this world. It is hard giving up your dreams for His, but through His power, He can accomplish that and we CAN be used for His purposes when we yield to the Holy Spirit. Will you join me?
