I will take Joy.

In the midst of trials, our faith is put to the test.

"My heart pounded,  my lips quivered at the sound, and my legs trembled." Habakkuk, one of my favorite Prophets of the Old Testament understood fear and doubt. He understood the need to have it removed. And he understood what effect it had on a person.

This week fear and doubt  have trickled in, it stays and it seems that it wont leave. If I could use detailed words to explain exact situations I would... but I cant. There is a verse I have memorized, and repeating it over and over gives me comfort.  I can imagine my lips saying these words as I was slowly falling asleep last night...

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. Habakkuk 3:17-19

I can think back to a time when I was hiking. I was night backpacking up to Sawtooth Lake, in Idaho... It was my first time going, I had no idea what to expect... AT ALL. We had to go up 4, 000 feet pretty fast, starting at the base. The Sun was setting I didn't have a headlamp, so I had a person behind me and in front with one. I constantly needed the light to guide my way. When a switchback would come, I desperately needed a glimpse of light, just so I could be confident in my steps.  It brought a lot of stress on my body, especially knowing I had 2,000 more feet to go.
  If only I could of caught glimpses of my surroundings.... to the left was a mystery... to the right was a mystery... in front of me was a mystery...and behind me, well that was a mystery too.

The light was my comfort, I can imagine the stress right now and my physical need to see it. Its like my body drenched all the daily comforts I had, and I became dry and in need. I was vulnerable to the darkness and lack of light. I cant explain quite in words.

When we got to the top, it was flat... and we continued on. We set up a 2 person tent and pushed 5 people in it. We were pretty warm and had a few laughs, but was I ever grateful knowing I was finally somewhere to stay. 
When I woke the next morning.... I was amazed.



I opened the tent and I was in awe.

I pulled out my journal and sketched....

I didn't take  a picture.

It was beautiful.





After a few minutes, I got up... followed the trail a little bit more...

and there it was...

the prime spotlight of Gods creation in this beautiful place...

WE call upon the Lord when we are desperate. We cling to what we can for comfort of any kind...  Habakkuk, too was desperate. He was desperate for the Salvation of the people... He himself prayed this prayer to the Lord. He needed comfort, the people needed comfort, and the Lord told him to wait.  Christ the Lord was coming.
 In my perspective, when only glimpses of light show...I can say with my knowledge and with my heart, from the faith he has given to me...that my Lord is faithful. He  sure does have something beautiful for me to see.