Four times a week. That’s my goal for walking: Two miles, four days a week. Oh, I don’t love it. The heat and humidity are oppressive. I struggle to get my miles in. When I walk, I keep my head down and my eyes on the road. All I see is heat shimmering off the road, reminding me the temperature is steadily climbing. I count down the minutes and miles until I’m finished. One mile down, one to go; one and a half miles down, a half mile to go! Almost finished! Today was different. I decided to look up and look out.
Amazing things happen when you take your eyes off your circumstances.
Up above me, instead of scorching heat, I saw beautiful clouds floating peacefully. Occasionally, they would block the sun, lowering the temperature ever so slightly. It refreshed me.
Looking out, far into the distance, I saw them. The storm clouds, promising rain. A shower, bringing a reprieve from the heat. Thankfulness pierced my heart!
It’s hard, though. To look up and out when you are in the middle of a storm.
Life’s struggles keep us tethered to the now, wondering if we will make it to the later.
Focusing on what’s above will have us looking outside of ourselves. Looking up, we can always find something to be thankful for. Looking past our circumstances gives us hope for tomorrow. The heat will pass, cooling rains will come, renewal and refreshing will fill us again.
Sometimes we can’t see the goodness of God until we’re out of the heat.
Look to the Lord and focus on Him. Fix your eyes on Jesus. He is here; He is with us; and He will never leave us. Even in the heat of the struggle, He’s here. Don’t you feel Him in the hug of a loved one? Don’t you sense His presence in the prayers of your friends?
When struggles come, look up to Jesus. Look out and see what He is doing. Cooling, refreshing showers are ahead.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
For His glory,
