So I'm in Maine right now on family vacay :) Just now we had family devo and the topic was perseverance; I'll throw in focus and faith too.
For pics, visit my flickr account :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/lieutenantluci/7808886148/
The trek To Bubble Rock is not an easy one, moreso for those who are hardly ever exposed to the world of hiking such as my family and myself. The trail is a short 30 minute climb from bottom to top; while it’s easily accessible, it is equally dangerous as you wind through a forest laced with slippery moss and loose rocks. The trail isn’t always easy to see—discernment is necessary and every step you take must be precise and sure.
I did not know exactly what I would see up there except a rock that somehow sat precariously on the edge of a steep edge. My brother’s expectation was simply “just a rock”. My father’s expectation, and later his story, was simple yet humbling: he would have been happy just viewing the rock from a close low angle.
Much to our collective surprise, the trail took us higher than Bubble Rock. In fact, we had to climb down several feet to get to it up close! But the rock wasn’t the only feature to gaze at—everything around it, the scenery of the hills, lakes, ocean, road—just everything. The bigger picture was incredible and nothing near what any if us had expected!
Likewise, following and walking with Jesus is not for the faint of heart. There are steep hills and mountains to climb, sharp turns to make, and daring descents to brave; our expectations and plans are one thing, but God’s purpose, His bigger picture, is, more often than not, something else entirely and infinitely more beautiful.
Proverbs 16:9 “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”
Stay on course, brothers and sisters in Christ, for God is good. The decision to follow Jesus is not an easy one, but it is worth it.