“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” Proverbs 4:25

Mud

I’ve mentioned before that I do walking laps on our long deck each day. It’s a good daily exercise for me. I love being in the fresh air, and I enjoy looking at the view. It’s always a good prayer/worship time for me.

After my surgery a few weeks ago, I went several days before I could do my walking again because I was too sore. The first day I actually walked was slow going—it felt like I was trudging through mud! The next day was easier—the following day easier still—and now I’m back to almost normal.

As I went through this process and was praying, I couldn’t help but apply it to life. Often times when we’re going through a trial, trying to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, it can feel like we’re slogging through mud! We can barely move forward. But if we just keep going, with God’s help, it gets easier.

I thought back over the last few years and could see how this has happened over and over. I hit a rough spot, and it’s hard to keep going. The “mud” is so thick and heavy. But God extends grace, and I manage to keep moving forward. I hate the “mud”, but God faithfully washes it away as I keep moving. I just have to keep going forward. With each step through the “mud” I sense God holding my hand, helping me, guiding me, and getting me through to safe ground again.

There have been times when it felt like the “mud” clung for a while, but eventually it was all gone and I could move forward more easily. I’m so very grateful that God has helped me through each muddy patch. He has been so faithful!

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

Lord, thank You for helping us slog through the mud. Help us keep our eyes on You, trusting You to get us out to the other side. Amen.