Risen & Rooted

Ever taken a road trip? The excitement of adventure is in the air. Strategically packing the car, getting all your fave snacks, & imagining all the fun, unexpected stops you will make along the way to your destination. Then there’s the actual drive…

The drive….sometimes the route is scenic & pleasant, then, sooner or later, you run into choppy weather ascending into a curvy, dark valley surrounded by mountains that look like they reach all the way to Heaven. Deep down, maybe you’re a little tense, nervous…..downright afraid, even…but you just keep going. After a while, you come out of the storm & for a while, everything is wet, soggy & dreary. You come out of the valley onto flat, open road & the sun begins to peek through the clouds. You breathe a deep sigh of relief , thank God for safety & do what you started out doing. Driving through it, with your destination still in mind.

And so it is in the Christian life. When we got saved, we weren’t signing up for a journey of constant open roads, sunshine & rainbows. It is much like a road trip. God even says as much in Psalm 34:19. The beauty of this often rough journey, though, is that God knows exactly where the destination is & He is willing to do all the driving, while we sit back & rest in the passenger seat. We need not panic when we have unplanned stops, detours or when going through the worst of storms. Jesus is at the wheel & on the throne! He is a faithful & sovereign guide! He will make sure we arrive exactly where He wants us to be….& ultimately safe & sound on Heaven’s shore.

If you are in a valley today, here are a few of what I like to call my “anchor verses“. These scriptures have greatly encouraged my heart over the years, & I pray they do the same for your heart as you meditate on them.

James 1:2-4

Psalm 34:19

Job 2:10

Job 13:15

I Corinthians 15:58

I Peter 5:5-11

Psalm 30:5

Psalm 23

Psalm 119:67-71