Further Up. Further In.

There's a famous line from "The Chronicles of Narnia" that many listeners can recognize even if they have never seen the movie or read the book. The phrase, “further up and further in,” comes from C. S. Lewis's final book from the Narnia series in which (without spoiling the ending) the storyline heads toward a huge crescendo conclusion!

This sentence is an exciting call to action! It is a challenge for others to keep their eyes on the goal that is in front of them. It is a call to NOT stand still but to move deeper into the mysteries of life with bravery and courage.

Life gets complicated regularly it seems. The human tendency is to avoid pain, take the path of least resistance, and just turn around and quit. 

God promises to always be with you. Always.

Are you going through a difficult time right now?

Often times the best path for growth, maturity, and discipline is further upward, further onward, and just like the Israelites in the Bible...eventually moving through the wilderness of your issues rather than avoiding them.

Here's some scripture to bring you hope, encouragement, and to remind you that you're not alone.

Psalm 27:13-14
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
 
Lamentations 3:22-24
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.

Psalm 9:10
And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

1 Corinthians 13:6-7, 13
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres… And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Psalm 25:5
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.