Steep Hills and Rocky Paths

Image by SplitShire from Pixabay 

The author of today’s devotion in Our Daily Bread used the analogy of climbing uphill when facing challenges. For some of us, our entire lives seem like an uphill climb, sometimes so steep we can’t see over the top. Here and there we reach a plateau, but those are often too short.

Last week, my husband woke at 4 am violently ill and I rushed him to the ER. I tried not to panic, turning to God in prayer. After all, I’ve been here before, several times, and God has always helped me through. I didn’t always get the answers I wanted, but God walked me through the rocky paths that followed.

After several hours of testing, doctors diagnosed my husband’s illness as diverticulitis, a very painful infection of the intestines. They treated him with pain medications, fluids, and intravenous antibiotics until his symptoms lessened enough to continue treatment at home with oral antibiotics.

I thought we’d reached a plateau, but our path steepened again the next day.

I woke up with a bad cold, praying my husband wouldn’t catch it and complicate his recovery. Thankfully, God answered that prayer, too. Not only did my husband not contract my cold, I remained well enough to care for my him until he recovered. God is indeed good.

Today’s devotion ended by pointing out these steep hills are always leading up toward God, not away from him. I love that imagery. I would rather climb, as hard as that is, than descend.

Dear Lord, although the way is steep and often rocky, I know you will help me over the rough spots with encouragement and added strength. Amen.