I often catch glimpses of the Smoky Mountains as I drive around Knoxville where we live. This hot summer has me thinking about those fall colors and snow dusted tops already!

I am so thankful God has allowed me to live so close that I can hop in the car and, in just over 30 minutes, find myself surrounded by the majesty of mountains and able to stick my toes in the cold water of mountain streams.

And as I stand there looking up at those wonderful mountains, I feel so small and God always seems to feel bigger and closer to me somehow.

I also notice my problems start to feel small too.

And life just seems to regain perspective as I soak in the smells of those mountains that stood there long before I was born, and as I listen to the stream rush by, and remember, it will be flowing long after I’m gone.

Yes, everything about my life, and your life, is temporary and sometimes we make mountains out of our problems and miss the majesty around us.

When I remember a big, timeless God, who not only creates mountains, and commands rushing streams, is also working all things together for good for those who love Him (Rom 8:28) ,my peace is restored. It comes rushing in like a river.

Because of God, I can have peace even when life takes twists and turns I didn’t expect, and even when wrong is done to me or to those I love.

Part of that peace comes from knowing that one day the powerful God of creation will exact justice. Wrong will not always be allowed to go unchecked. Death really will be defeated. (Heb 10:30-31, 1 Cor 15:26-28).

The trouble and pain we face in this life will be no more.

There will be a New Heaven and a New Earth. More glorious than even my beloved Smoky Mountains. (Rev 21)

But until then, we wait.

Hard things happen here. Toes in cool mountain stream days are fleeting. New troubles come.

But for those who trust in God, we remember hard things are only ever temporary.

Does it mean we will understand all that He is doing? No.

Does it mean God will bring good with our hard things during our lifetime? Maybe not.

But we can rest knowing that the Great I Am will keep every promise in His Word. (Prov 30:5-6, Heb 10:23)

We rest not because this world, our world, is perfect or ever could be. No. We rest because a perfect God has made a way for us to be with Him in a world where tears will be no more.

Our minds cannot perceive what God has prepared for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. (Eph 3:20)

And as Christ endured the cross because of the joy set before Him, we too can endure the troubles of this life. (Heb 12:2)

We can when we remember we have anchor for our souls….Maybe you need to get outside today and remember that.

As you look around though, remember we have God who sees what we cannot see, and can do what we cannot do. (Heb 4:13, Luke 1:37)

We trust Him by acknowledging Him in all our ways and by keeping His Word. (Prov 3:5-6)

And it is there that our paths are made straight and we find hope and rest in peace that surpasses all understanding. (Phil 4:7)

peace

holdon

whataSavior

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