Have you ever noticed how life can be filled with so many downs? When we get sick we have to lay down. When things don’t go well – we feel down. Our car breaks down, business has gone down, payroll goes down, the internet went down (God forbid!), our number of followers/likes/subscribers went down. And it’s no secret that when the sun goes down we get afraid. As Christians…we fear going down, down, down.
It is no wonder when we are taught that Hell is down and Heaven is up that our fear and focus is on the down. News & Media outlets know that we fester and feed on the negative, scary and downer stories. What would life be like if we would all – just look up!
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” – Luke 21:28, KJV
The Lord had just completed describing what many today call the Apocalypse, the end times, the Woes of man – when all things are at the darkest hour, when there seems to be no positive – the sky is falling down, the trees have been shaken loose, the mountains are broken down, Jesus says, then look up.
Look up! This certainly isn’t one of those messages to tell you nonsense like, it could be worse!, or, first world problems… as if to demean how hard your struggles are and make them seem small. If they were small, you wouldn’t be feeling down!
But I do want to remind you, that all things grow from the ashes of the wildfires before them! Our struggles are birthing places for strength, faith, hope and compassion. When my mother passed away my world shook – the floods of grief that hit me (even now) are stronger than any other pain of loss I have felt before. Yet, flowering from my tears came strength to see and do things that needed doing. From my sorrow came a joy that I had found a truer purpose and position in life – one founded in her being what I would become.
Just imagine what was going through the Psalmists heart and the circumstances in his life when he penned these words;
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4, KJV
You have to be down to be in a valley – yet David felt comfort by knowing in that low place of dread and death – God was with him, that there had to be a place of rising. They say what goes up, must come down…but I want to say – God’s purpose in the valley is to help you rise! Meditate on these verses of miraculous healing and power;
“He took her by the hand and told her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Young lady, I tell you, get up!” – Mark 5:41, ISV
“And He came up and touched the bier [on which the body rested], and the pallbearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise[from death]!” – Luke 7:14, AMP
“Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” Immediately Aeneas got up.” – Acts 9:16, AMP
“Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O captive Jerusalem; Loose yourself from the chains around your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.” – Isaiah 52:2
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:” – Proverbs 24:16a, KJV
What ever your struggles, what ever holds you down, know that Jesus came to set the captive free, to break the chains of bondage, to loose the shackles of enslavement!
He has the power, you have the choice! So I say, It is time to Look up – your redemption draws nigh unto you! God bless,
