"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." -- Psalm 84:5-7

For a number of years my family would take annual trips from Queens, NY to Parsons, Kansas for a visit to see my Grandmother and Uncle. The car trip took us three days and in the 1950s it was quite tiring, but we always looked forward to spending time with family and friends. Long as the trip was, my parents had a way of brightening the time for a young boy. We had special stops everyday that were both refreshing and lots of fun. Each one renewed our energy for the trip.

As the trip was long and tiring for spiritual pilgrims in the days of Old Testament, their desire to worship God in his sanctuary kept them energized. In addition, their faith would bring renewed strength along the way, turning the driest valley into pools of cool water. Our journey toward heaven is much the same. We're looking forward to seeing Jesus with great expectation and it drives us onward through the darkest day. He is our strength and we find that strength renewed again and again all along the road to heaven. John wrote in John 1:16,"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another."

Those visits to my Grandmother's home always bring pleasant memories. They also remind me that every good trip has a joyful destination and energizing stops along the way. If you're on your way to heaven today, keep that destination in mind as you travel and know that your loving heavenly Father will always provide those needed moments when you will go from "strength to strength" in Him.