The ups and downs

With the exception of 5 days, my husband and I have been together every day for the last 27 months. It feels like so much longer, and yet it feels like it’s been just a few weeks since we got married. There is still so much to learn, so much to see, so much to enjoy. But as much as we are still rookies in this marriage business, he has managed to learn a few things about me, and I have learned a lot from him and about him. 

A few weeks ago I was sitting in the living room of our house staring into the void and mouthing words so softly he couldn’t hear what was being said. He now knows that means I am going over scenarios that are either too overwhelming or too insane for me to share with him. He also knows now he needs to stop me so I don’t go crazy with all the thinking. So he asked me what I was pondering about with a smirk on his face. 

-You know how people say life is a roller coaster? – I said 

- Hmm what do you mean exactly 

- Well, they say it has ups and downs and we have to go through both. If we are on an ‘up’ then we must be ready for a 'down'. If we are on a 'down' we must be encouraged knowing an 'up' is coming. 

- Ok 

- Well, I am concerned about that. I have been on an up for the last 3+ years and I love my life. Does that mean we are up for a 'down'? Are we overdue for a 'down'? 

- {laughter, laughter, laughter} Honey, from the outside our life surely doesn’t look like an 'up'. We have a very limited income, you have been having migraine headaches, we live in a tiny little place built a hundred years ago, I am allergic to something but we don’t know what it is, we have no insurance, you were supposed to be 6 months pregnant, my computer is breaking, shall I keep going?... We just choose to enjoy where we are. In reality we probably are on our way to an upper 'up'. 

Isn't my husband just the most encouraging man ever? He is absolutely right, our life surely doesn't look like an 'up' but I feel like I have the best life in the world, I really do. 

See when the apostle Paul said rejoice in the Lord always in Philippians 4:4 he surely didn’t mean all things would be fun and exciting, and 'ups' that everyone rejoices in. He meant our outlook in life had to be one that regardless of the situation we would choose joy because we knew our Father is good. I can’t say my joy comes from me being awesome, that would be ridiculous. The only reason I feel like I am at the top of the roller coaster is because of God’s grace. 

I can’t choose joy by myself; the circumstances surrounding my life could surely overwhelm me and fill me with sadness. Some days I do think about my baby, and those days I cry, sometimes I lay in bed with headaches and those days I cry. But then the Holy Spirit whispers in my ear ‘For I know the plans I have for you plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ And He reminds me who my Father is. 

In Philippians 4 we find where joy really comes from 

• Philippians 4:1 – …stand firm in the Lord 
• Philippians 4:2 – …agree in the lord 
• Philippians 4:4 - …rejoice in the Lord

Joy comes from the Lord, and whatever your circumstance I believe you can live a life full of 'ups' and joy. Today I pray for all of those out there that are in a 'down', I pray the Lord will help them change their perspective. I pray they will get the revelation of who God is, and they will comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth of the Love of Christ for them.