I had a conversation yesterday with a good friend who is a pastor and has struggled over the last few years. During the conversation he told me about some things that were going really well at his church, but I could still sense that frustration that I have heard over the last couple of years. That’s when God laid this question on my heart to ask him: I said “would you trade places today with where you were two years ago.” He said of course not. Why? Because he had made progress.
Here’s the point. We get so focused looking through the front windshield of where we are going and realize that we have a long way to go. But, seldom do we take a moment and look in the rear view mirror to see how far we have come. It’s kind of like weight loss (so I’m told). That whole one pound a week thing. While it is important to stay focused and look forward toward the goal, it is just as important to see how far you have come. It gives you confidence to keep going (so I’m told!).
For me, I am guilty of this. I always look for the next step of the journey. But God has taught me to reflect for a moment and see how far I’ve come (actually how far he has brought me). There’s an old song lyric that says “We have come so far, you have been so good. When I think about the road that we have traveled, I gotta tell you Lord. I look at where we are and see where I could have been. I need to say again, you’ve been so good, who would have guessed that we have come so far.”
Thank God today from where he has brought you and where he wants to go. Stay with him, he’s right there with you!