Do you know what a switchback is?
Definition of switchback
: a zigzag road, trail, or section of road for climbing a steep hill
Have you ever been on a mountain road that when you were driving you couldn’t see very far ahead of you? The roads curved and bent so sharply that you had to drive slowly and very cautiously because you didn’t know what lie ahead. You were nervous and afraid that you may crash or drive off the road. When you reach the top of the mountain and pull over, you are able to look back and down the mountain. And what you see is all the curves and bends you just drove through and understand the journey you just made.
Life is the same. Daily we wake up and journey through curves and bends in our day that we can’t see what lies ahead. Unsure of what the day brings causes us to be anxious about maneuvering through our day just like driving on that mountain road. We don’t know what we will encounter, good or bad yet we need to “drive” on because we can’t turn back. An important note on these roads with switchbacks is that you can’t stop, pull over, or even turn around. You must continue forward. Once we have “driven” through the day on our “mountain road” and we can reflect back maybe while we are laying in bed before sleep. We can see how the day has played out and have a clearer view of where we have been and how we maneuvered through the daily switchbacks..
Let’s view these switchbacks in a different way. What if instead of viewing the switchback as something scary ahead of us we viewed it as a possibility as something beautiful. Let’s say as we round the hairpin turn we see a beautiful doe and fawn nuzzling along the side of the road. What about maybe that turn leads us into a gorgeous sunrise with more colors than you have ever seen before. Does a switchback have to be negative?
We are so much better at handling switchbacks with gratitude and faith. When I wake up in the morning I tell God, “Father, I don’t know what today brings but I want to do good in every situation. I serve in Your name while thanking You for all opportunities You offer me.”. By saying this, begins my day facing my switchbacks with God holding my hand no matter what and being grateful for what He has planned for me.
Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
I have lived too many years of my life fearing the unknown of a switchback. My attitude was negative and fearful and constantly anxious. Thankfully, that no longer is my life. I have learned to look back on my life’s switchbacks and see how God always brought me through them. He steered me through a tough divorce, family members with cancer, car accidents, financial difficulties, relationship breakups, and other tough times. I can now look down the mountain at the switchbacks of the last 50 years. I can see those roads and journeys He was with me on.
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you In God, whose word I praise—
in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
I ask you today to not fear the corners, bends, and switchbacks in life but embrace them. Knowing God and having faith in Him will bring many more beautiful opportunities from the unknown than you can imagine. Remember these words, God is good and you can TRUST in HIM. My love and gratitude-LoLo
gratefulgratitude.net 