The End....Or Is It?

It's all going to be okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end.

I found this quote recently and I just love it! Sometimes we feel like it's 'the end of the world' and that there is no solution, no relief or no solution in sight.....but that is just not the case. Now, it's easy for me to get all philosophical about it right at this moment, because I'm actually really happy and things are going pretty well for me. But there were times where I was in total despair and those times weren't long ago. I remember thinking that my life was over and things would never be the same. I was half right.

Things most certainly were never going to be the same, but my life was far from over. Why is it SO difficult to see that when you're in the midst of the pain or hardship?? I liken it to the concept of hills and valleys across a landscape. When you're at the top of a hill, things look majestic and beautiful, you feel powerful and in control of your destiny.....and then for one reason or another, you find yourself in the valley right in front of that hill and the scenery has most certainly changed.....and NOT for the better!

You no longer feel like you are in control of your life, you feel powerless, the next hill looks daunting and insurmountable. You often feel alone in that valley, even though there are tons of people around you. I've definitely been there.

Now, I feel like I am at the top of another hill in life - I'm enjoying Texas, my new relationship, hope and excitement for the future and happiness.

However, I'm not naive enough to think that I will always stay right at the tippy-top of that hill. I know there will be more valleys in life and I will suffer setbacks, hurts, losses and endure some not-so-great things. But that's just part of the landscape of life and with each valley I manage to climb out of, I learn more skills that will help me get out of the next valley sooner, easier and stronger. So while we would all like to curse the valleys and avoid them like the plague, we should really be thankful that God gave us the tools to get out of them if we just trust that He is in control and that there's a way out!