Extremes
Yesterday I had a chance to photograph the highest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. Later today I will be photographing at the lowest point in the United States, Death Valley. I find it fascinating that these two extreme points are not very far apart. Sometimes life’s extremes are not that far apart either. In a single day we may find ourselves moving from deep despair to jubliation or the other way around. We may also find ourselves several places in between.
I noted in my last entry how we have the assurance that God is with us even in the deepest valleys of our lives. We also have the confidence that He is present with us when we are standing on the proverbial “mountain top” as well. Thankfully we can likewise affirm that God is with us at all points in between. In Psalm 139 David asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (vs. 7-10)
It is interesting that David ties God’s continuous presence to the fact that He is also his Creator. In verse 13, after he has made it clear that there is nowhere he can go to escape from God’s presence, he says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Recognizing God as his Maker, and also as his constant Companion, David could not help but worship God. He said, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (v. 14)
If we can come to comprehend that God is our Creator, too, and that He is there for us in the extremes of life as well as all points in between, then we will likewise find ourselves offering God our worship and praise. How could we not? Today you can rest assured that God is with you wherever you are and whatever your circumstances. If you’re high as Mt. Whitney, rejoice knowing that God is with you and that He shares your joy. If you’re as low as Death Valley, I hope you’ll find both peace and comfort knowing that you are not alone and that the Maker of heaven and earth both cares for you and is there to help you.
–Chuck
(I took the picture of Mount Whitney yesterday morning. I took the image of Death Valley several years ago.)