PS 84:5-7 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

There is a very nice setting to music of the Japanese for these three verses, which I was pleased to be able to render in English for use by our bilingual congregation here. The meaning is actually quite important when it comes to dealing with the difficulties of life. To start with, the Psalmist speaks of “the great road to Zion” (the road of pilgrimage) being in people’s hearts. As many Negro Spirituals bring out, life on this earth is a pilgrimage and not a destination. However, a lot of people don’t recognize that, and the results are often tragic. It is those who know where they are going who have the most real success on the way. The Psalmist mentions passing through the “vale of weaping.” The NIV treats that as a simple place name (Valley of Baca), but whether or not there is such a physical location, everyone goes through times of tears in their lives. When our hearts are set on our ultimate destination, such times/locations are transformed into opportunities for blessing. The line about going “from strength to strength” brings to mind 2 Corinthians 3:18, which speaks of going “from glory to glory.” The final destination is indeed the presence of God, and that will truly be glorious.

I am constantly dealing with people who have lost sight of their destination, and as a result bring multiplied emotional suffering on themselves. They don’t understand this passage! I can’t say that I’ve always understood it myself, but it has certainly been worked into me over the years. The journey keeps getting better and better, because it’s easier and easier to overlook the bumps in the road and delight in where I’m going. I will confess to times of frustration and exhaustion, but those fade in importance when they are put into perspective. I am to seek to bring others to the same viewpoint, but extend to them the same patience that was extended to me, not berating them for their slowness but encouraging them to lift their eyes to Jesus.

Father, thank You for Your grace, toward me and toward everyone around me. Help me be an open channel of that grace, not trying to drag people into the “way to Zion” but allowing Your Spirit to use me to open their eyes to see that way and choose to enter it. Help me not focus on difficulties, but rather on You who are the solution, so that I may be fully available for however You want to use me to bring others into Your family, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!