When the Journey Seems too Hard

“Everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” James Baldwin, Author

Have you ever had a difficult circumstance, one that seems almost impossible to get through?

My help comes from the Lord. Psalm 121:1 ESV “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?”  This verse seems to be a prayer sung by the Israelites as they made the long journey to Jerusalem. Did you know Jerusalem was built on a mountain? This was a difficult and dangerous journey of 500 miles, and many were too old and sick to travel so far. After four long months of traveling, the Israelites arrived in Jerusalem. Even after all this the Israelites had harder times ahead of them.

Have you ever had a time where just as you managed to get through a difficult circumstance, something just as intense comes your way?  It’s times like this in life that you may feel like you are emotionally numb and walking around in a fog. I had a year like this.

My mother had a brain aneurysm which brought long months of surgeries followed by months of rehab. Five months later my mother-in-law died unexpectedly while we were out visiting her in Indiana. After staying an extra week planning the funeral we returned home. That evening when we returned home, I received a call of desperation from my grandfather. I rushed over my grandparents’ home. My grandmother passed 9 hours later. A few months later my mother’s brain started bleeding again and she had emergency surgery again. It was a year I just didn’t know how I was going to ever make it through. I may not have taken the 500-mile journey like the Israelites, but it felt like I did emotionally.  

Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My loving kindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.”

A Message of Encouragement
God’s loving kindness will not be removed from you.
God’s promise of peace will not be shaken.
God has compassion on you.

God stays with us even though our mountain at times seems too high to climb. He is right there with us through the rough terrain, the times that we feel we can’t breathe in the thin air and helps us through the obstacles that are in our way. He promises us his love, and peace because he is a compassionate Father. He may not remove those things because he needs us to turn to him to weather through it together. It’s after those things have passed, that I have come to realize the hope and strength I have found only in and through my heavenly Father.

Reflection Questions:

1.       When facing your mountain, in whom can you place your hope? Why?

2.       How secure do you feel in the circumstances you may be facing right now? Why?  

3.       Does the assurance of Isaiah 54:10 guarantee nothing will hurt you?

4.       Does knowing you do not have to take any difficult journey alone give you comfort?

5.       What past specific situation can you reflect on? What have you learned from your experience?