When we are called to relationship with God, it is not all ease and comfort. We are called into relationship with Him, to share in who He is and the Kingdom He has established.

This means we share all facets of experience and all kinds of circumstances with our heavenly Father. We share in his sufferings. We share in his glory. As members of his family, we encounter the struggles and the triumphs he encounters.

This can be an uncomfortable truth. We don’t want to share in suffering. We want to avoid that and skip to the best part. But relationship with God is not about the perks; it is about the relationship.

The Valleys are undesirable and pain should not be pursued. But when it arrives, it is an opportunity to lean into our Divine parent. To listen to his advice on how to respond. To be covered by his voice telling us it is ok and that He is right next to us.

We are the family of God. Meant to pursue better circumstances. But even more than that, meant to share in all the terrains of life.

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
– Romans 8:16-18