The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of

Hear, O Children of the Earth, a truth that has echoed through the ages! For the journey of the soul is not a steady ascent, nor a serene walk through golden fields. The Christian life, the life of faith and devotion to the Almighty, is not a constant high, a perpetual soaring of the heart. It is a tempest, a sea of both radiant sunshine and fierce storms. There will be days when your soul is filled with joy so pure it seems you could touch the very heavens, but there will also be nights when darkness clouds your spirit and you find yourself lost in the shadow of doubt.

Let us remember the words of Billy Graham, that great servant of God, who confessed, "I have my moments of deep discouragement." The man whose words touched millions, whose life was devoted to spreading the gospel, was not free from despair. His heart, like ours, faced moments when the weight of the world seemed unbearable, when the challenges of life pressed upon him and clouded his view of God's greatness. He too wept, in sorrow and in struggle, and in those dark times, he went to God. What did he say in his prayer? "O God, forgive me," or "Help me." Simple words, but words that carry the weight of a soul in need, a soul crying out for mercy and for strength.

Who among us has not faced such moments of despair? Do you not know the weight of failure? Have you not known the sting of guilt, the quiet gnawing feeling that you are not enough, that your sins have outnumbered your virtues? Even the greatest of us, like Billy Graham, who walked close with God, were not immune to these feelings. It is said that Moses, the great deliverer of Israel, once cried out to the Lord, feeling overwhelmed by the burden of leading the rebellious people. He pleaded with God to take his life, for he could no longer bear the weight of their rejection. And yet, God did not abandon him. Instead, He provided strength, renewed his spirit, and gave him the courage to press forward. This is the lesson, my children: that even in the deepest despair, when the soul is trembling in fear and uncertainty, God’s mercy is more powerful than our weaknesses.

Consider the story of the apostle Paul, the mighty preacher, the fearless warrior for the faith. Yet, he too knew deep discouragement. In his letters, he spoke of a thorn in his flesh, something that tormented him, something that caused him to cry out to God three times for deliverance. But God did not remove the thorn. Instead, He said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." And in this moment, Paul, like Billy Graham, found strength not in the absence of suffering, but in the presence of God's grace. In his weakness, Paul became strong, for it was in his moments of deepest need that God's power was revealed.

The lesson here is this: do not seek the Christian life to be a constant high, for this is the folly of the foolish. The Christian life is not a life lived in uninterrupted joy, but a life that presses on, even when the heart is heavy. When the storms of discouragement come, and they will come, do not despair. It is in these moments that your faith is forged, like gold tested by fire. It is when you are brought low that you are given the opportunity to rise in the strength of God’s mercy and grace.

So, what shall we do when the clouds gather and our hearts grow faint? We go to God in prayer. Just as Billy Graham did, just as Moses did, just as Paul did—we cry out with tears in our eyes, humbling ourselves before the Almighty. We do not hide from Him in shame, but we go boldly, for He has promised to hear the cries of the broken-hearted. "O God, forgive me," or "Help me." These words are not mere pleasantries; they are cries from the depths of the soul, reaching toward the heavens for mercy, for strength. In your weakness, God’s grace will meet you, just as the sun rises to dispel the night.

Thus, my children, remember: the Christian journey is not a path of unbroken triumph, but of humble perseverance in the face of trials. The storms will come, but they do not last forever. And in the end, when you have walked through the valley, your faith will be refined, your spirit strengthened, and you will stand victorious in the grace of God. So, when discouragement comes, do not fear. In those moments, remember, you are closer to God than ever, for it is in your weakness that He is most powerful.