They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. (Ps. 84:7)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 84:5-9
Growing up “on the road” gave me a love for road trips. To this day, if I remain in one place for more than a month, I go stir-crazy. My husband jokes that I have “10W-30 for blood.” I don’t usually care where we go; I just enjoy the drive.
Unfortunately, my husband and children don’t share my affection for ground transportation. If someone invented “transporter beam” technology (like in the TV series, Star Trek), everyone in my family—except me—would be giddy.
I’ve heard, “It’s the journey, not the destination, that matters.” I understand the sentiment. If we do not enjoy the journey of life—the normal, everyday happenings of our existence—we will miss out on much life has to offer. Goals (“destinations”) are great, but we may never reach them if we don’t break them into smaller, more attainable chunks (“the journey”). However, imagine never making any progress at all! Without a destination, we are doomed to wander aimlessly through life without purpose.
The psalmist emphasized that those who set their hearts on a specific destination, the presence of God, are blessed even before they reach it. The anticipation of seeing God gives them strength to persevere. Someday we will see God face-to-face. On that day, we may discover that both the journey and the destination were more important than we ever imagined!
Enjoy the journey, but don’t lose sight of the destination.
Laura Hurd is an ordained minister in The Wesleyan Church and co-pastors with her husband, Jason, in northwestern Nebraska. She enjoys rural life, reading, and road trips.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
