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A tough morning. Pain. Negative thoughts. When I walked downstairs to release Jordan from the post surgical “moon boots” he has to sleep in for 21 days, he said “I need Vicodin.”

Luke trudged down next with a scowl on his face reflecting what all of us were thinking. He said it anyway. “I’m sick of us and all the physical health problems we keep having.” I opened my lips to speak a word of encouragement but instead all that came out was, “Me, too.” Not very encouraging. But since my right leg was numb and the nerves in my foot at that moment were threatening to go on strike, it’s all that came to mind.

I figured Luke’s concussion symptoms would be long gone by now. I never expected him to have a major flare up for most of Christmas break. Didn’t see that one coming. Nor did I think that Jordan’s recovery from his hip surgery would slow to the point of not being able to go to school on Monday. Really didn’t see that coming. Nor did I believe that the Almighty would see fit to allow me to have a high pain week while trying to help these young men through such choppy waters.

But it’s exactly what we face.

So later in the day as I did physical therapy on Jordan’s leg I said, “You know what’s good about the view from the valley?” He shook his head and I said, “It, uh… forces you to look up.” Awkward pause. Sounds like something from The Sound of Music, doesn’t it? I couldn’t say it with a straight face. We erupted into laughter, which felt wonderful.

Only Truth can turn these disappointments of the heart into triumphs of the spirit. “The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward, and eastward and westward for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever’” (Genesis 13:14-15).

The battles we all face are territories for the Lord to conquer. My surrender gives me rest and showcases His glory. And the result? A steadfast spiritual heritage which my grandchildren’s children will hopefully one day recount to one another.

The battle wages on. Lift up your eyes!