Highs to Lows…

Yesterday, my daughter went on her first true date. Her boyfriend picked her up and took her to the movies, unsupervised. Today, he broke up with her. Within twenty four hours, I went from hearing her giggling voice filled with teenage puppy love to a tear-filled voice filled with teenage heartache. Oh, the highs and lows of life!

Goodness, we’ve all been there haven’t we? One day, we are crushing it in life and things seem to just be clicking. The next day, we get that news about our health we weren’t expecting; or maybe we receive harsh criticism from our boss; or a friend says something that hurts our feelings; or possibly we experience complete rejection by a loved one.

Even Jesus experienced this during his time on earth. The same people that laid palm branches down and shouted “Hosanna” as he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on a colt, raised their fists and shouted “Crucify Him” only a short time later. Oh, the highs and lows of life!

Let’s pause right there. Jesus experienced it too. Please don’t brush past this point. Jesus understands and can provide comfort for us in the highs and the lows of this life. There is absolutely nothing that He did not experience. He stands beside us in the highs and he holds us in the lows. He laughs with us in the joy and he wipes our tears in the pain. We are not alone in the highs and we are definitely not alone in the lows.

Hebrews 4:15-16 reminds us, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (NLT)

Mercy and Grace come in the highs and the lows. All Glory be to God our Father!

Be hopeful!