You who bring good news to Zion,  go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem,  lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” -Isaiah 40:9

Maybe you’re in a valley in your life. This reminds me of the time Hannah and I went to Switzerland. We were in a mountaineering town and there were two types of people there:  villagers that were always there,  and mountaineers.  Both of these people were in the valley, but while the villager was complacent and stuck in a rut, the mountaineer was preparing for their next climb. The mountaineer was getting the right tools, putting the plans together, meeting the right people, training or resting. Maybe you’ve been in a valley for a long time. You are in a time of preparation:  you’re not like the villagers who are going to be stuck there. You’re the mountaineer. God is going to bring you up to the mountain. Even if you’re on the top of the mountain right now, nobody stays on top of the mountain forever. Life is all about ebb and flow. There’s the up and down-ness of mountains like the waves. Life is always a series of achievement and then letting go of your achievement so that you can achieve the next thing that God has for you. You are a mountaineer.

PRAYER: Thank you, God, for the valleys and mountains in my life. Thank you for teaching me in the journey.

REFLECTION: Are you currently on a mountain or in a valley?