“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (I John 3:2 NIV)
I kept having the same recurring dream. I was walking towards a beautiful mountain As I reached the bottom and started to climb, it became a cliff with hard, sharp pieces sticking out. As I tried to climb, I would always drop back to the bottom with bleeding hands and knees. I said to myself, “I can’t do this!” One night the dream changed a bit. When standing at the bottom, frustrated, I looked to the right side of the mountain, and there was a beautiful, gradual slope going upward on which I could walk in ease to get to the top. When I got to the top…..all alone, I stood there thinking, “It’s lonely up here!”
I don’t claim to be an interrupter of dreams, but as I think back, my body was in relatively good health at the time of those dreams. Years later, here I am, living daily with pain and constant struggles due to chronic illnesses. I truly feel like I am climbing that sharp, straight up, impossible cliff. But, would I want to climb that easier path and be free from all the pain and struggles of this broken body? I don’t think so. I would look down the side and see all my friends and loved ones, still struggling to “get to the top,” finding as I did that it was impossible.
We all have our “mountains to climb,” but I’m so thankful that, in my case, He has given me others who understand, and to whom I can turn to hear a word of comfort and encouragement. We are to “bear one another’s burdens,” and to “cast our cares on Him…” In doing so, we can trust Him to help us through any and all suffering we are going through.
Take heart Dear Ones. One day our climb will be oh, so worth it! For, when we reach the top – it won’t be lonely at all. Because there we’ll see Jesus face to face – and we shall be like Him!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alice Ervin continues each day to climb the mountains of Fibromyalgia pain and fatigue, chemical sensitivities, and other chronic illnesses. But, she does so with the help of her beloved husband and friends who are always willing to help in any way they can. But, most of all, she is thankful for the constant presence and comfort of her Savior, Jesus.
DEAR ALICE;THANK YOU FOR YOUR KEEN OBSERVATION ON CHRONIC PAIN AND THE MOUNTAINS WE ALL MUST FACE AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST.WHEN I FIRST GOT RSD/CRPS NEARLY 12 YEARS AGO WHILE ON DUTY AS A POLICE OFFICER I TRIED TOO GO BACK TOO WORK OVER 8 TIMES.THAT WAS A TRIAL IN OF ITSELF.I COULND`NT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE LORD WANTED ME TOO DO.WHY?BECAUSE WE WERENT THAT CLOSE AS WE SHOULD BE.I WAS IN LOVE WITH MY JOB MORE THAN HIM.WELL A FTER 15 OPERATIONS AND 12 YEARS OF PAIN AND DEVELOPING SYMPTOMS I WOULDNT CHANGE A THING AS WHERE I AM NOW WITH HIM IS SO MUCH BETTER AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY WHEN YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING IT DOES TEND TOO GET LONELY AT THE TOP.BUT AS IT SAYS IN PSALMS 68 “THE LORD PUTS THE LONELY INTO FAMALIES”.OUR MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGING AND UPLIFTING ONE ANOTHER HAS PUT US INTO A FAMILY RIGHT HERE .A FAMILY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.AS WE TRULY NEED ONE ANOTHER THRU THIS FLIGHT OF AFFLICTIONS.I THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO TAKE THE TIME TOO WRITE OUT THESE DEVOTIONS AND BE OBEDIENT TOO GOD AND AT THE SAME TIME WE CAST OUT CARES ON HIM AS HE TOLD US TOO.I ALSO WOULD NOT CHANGE WERE I AM AT NOW AS I HAVE PEACE AND JOY INSIDE EVEN IN THE WORST OF PAIN DAYS.I BELIEVE I TOO HAVE FIBRO FOR SOME TIME AS I ALSO HAVE THAT NAGGING FATIGUE AND A HOST OF SYMPTOMS.BUT THIS TOO WILL ONLY DRAW ME CLOSER TOO HIM AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE THAT I SEE NEARLY EVERYDAY HERE AT DEVOTIONS.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. KEEP THE DEVOTIONS COMING PLEASE,GOD BLESS…THOMAS
By: TOM on June 25, 2009
at 2:09 am
Hi Alice,
I like the way you presented your thoughts about it being lonely at the top! The world thinks there is a “top” and that there must be someplace where all is perfect.
Well, there is not- no matter what “they” think!
I agree with Thomas and with you that the friends who help us on our climb and who understand how hard it is, really do in some ways only God can accomplish help lighten our load. Hopefully, we lighten their’s too.
Bless you for blessing us this day!
Love,
Lynn
By: Lynn Severance on June 25, 2009
at 5:44 am
Dear Alice,
Just read this before heading to bed. Interesting dream and good illustration.
I was glad to see that you really would not want to go on this journey of life the “easy” way. Although I’m sure, you have your moments, like we all do, of desiring longer periods of relief from the pain and frustration.
Some day, I believe as do you, that it WILL be worth it all and then some. To see our Saviour face to face and having his eyes of love looking into ours.
Thank you Alice for sharing this.
Love & prayers,
Beth
By: Beth on June 25, 2009
at 7:11 am