"If we want to know whether a building will stand strong or not, we look at it when the wind is blowing hard."  - Jonathan Edwards
   Obedience and perseverance are difficult disciplines to live out in life.  Recently, my family and I went hiking to see Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon, CO.   The hike is 1.2 miles to the top.  The kids quickly got distracted by bugs or interesting rocks begging to be picked up and looked at.   At around the ¼ of a mile Mark, my 6 year old son protested that he was too tired and did not want to go any further.  He pleaded to turn back.  Many of us feel that way from time to time.  We say, "God, I'm done.  This journey is too difficult.  I did not sign up for this."
   I let my son know the plan of making it all the way to the top and that we needed to figure out how we would make it.  We discussed how it would be worth it at the top.  As the kids began to notice the little beauties along the way, they lost track of the distance and pain of the hike.  Near the top, the kids were really struggling, but then found an incredibly artistically designed caterpillar.  My son loves caterpillars.  Had we turned back, he would not have discovered this caterpillar. A similarly designed caterpillar suddenly tumbled down from a tree directly above where my 4 year old daughter was standing.  They each had a companion they wanted to take along for the rest of their journey.
   The last couple hundred feet were the most difficult to climb, but the caterpillars eased the level of difficulty for our two children.  I asked my son, "So, was it worth it?".   He responded with a big grin and lots of excitement, "It was worth it!"  
   I imagine our journey of life kind of like this hike my children experienced to see Hanging Lake.  God desires our obedience when it does not make sense.  The eventual obedience of Jonah to God's voice, even though he was not happy about it, saved at least 120,000 Ninevites from their deserved judgment.   The Ninevites listened to a man they despised.  They ended up repenting, which is something Jonah did not expect.  Elijah wanted his own life to end, but persevered and Elisha was blessed by Elijah.  Elijah was eventually taken to heaven as a man who never died.    
   Are you trusting God today?  Do you think it will be worth it?  What things do you need to notice along the way?  Are you taking time to rest along the way?  Who is going with you on your journey?  What does obedience and perseverance look like in your life today?  Respond to God's direction today.  It will be worth it.

Meier Clinics Editor
info@meierclinics.com