One autumn day, my wife and I drove Colorado's beautiful Trail Ridge Road from Grand Lake up through Rocky Mountain National Park and back down to Estes Park. It was an exhilarating ride past mountain meadows and rushing waterfalls. Each bend in the road presented us with another startling, unexpected, awe-inspiring view. But if we hadn't decided to make the climb high above the tree line, we would have missed the view of peak after majestic peak as far as the eye could see.

In some ways, living for Jesus is like driving up a twisting mountain road. Today may find you in the depths of the valley where you can't catch a glimpse of any mountains at all. But you can find courage and strength to keep going.

God's Word tells us that His mercies and compassions are "new every morning" (Lam. 3:22-23). Just as each new day presents us with a different challenge, the Lord reveals the beauty of His character, the fulfillment of His promises, and the tender provision of His grace.

We don't know what today may bring. But we do know this: God will amaze us with His unfailing, ever-new compassions. The depths of the valleys just make His mountainpeaks that much more breathtaking.  — David C. Egner