Tunnels

A tunnel is an underground passageway. In general tunnels are at least twice as long as they are wide. In addition, they should be completely enclosed on all sides, save for the openings at each end.
In the city of Hyderabad, India where I live, I've seen a lot of tunnels being laid underground. Roads are dug up and traffic gets congested for a few days or weeks while the civic authorities lay down long stretches of concrete tunnels for carrying water, sewers, telecommunication cables, etc. Proposals have been laid to introduce 'Metro Rail' transport system which also might have a few phases which may run underground like the ones in New Delhi, India.

Now imagine that you are walking through a really long tunnel. I mean it, sit back and imagine... your surrounded by absolute darkness. The air smells different, musty, feels chilly. Deep hollow echoes are the noises you hear as you tread through the long winding paths. As you keep walking further, you come across a tiny shaft of light peeping through a crevice. Your heart skips a beat as you rush toward the crevice to catch some fresh air, your eyes adjust to the light, as you try to catch a glimpse of the outside. You now have a choice... settle down near the crevice and enjoy the shaft of light and the breeze or, strive on hoping to see the end soon. Refreshed by the 'crevice experience' you start hurrying through the tunnel. Eventually the unchanging surroundings, the darkness, the musty odour slows you down. As you push yourself to go on, you see some light in the distance. You rush to the spot only to discover another crevice in the rocky wall.
This goes on and on until you start losing all hopes of finding the end of the tunnel. Weariness pulls you down but you slowly push yourself ahead, without looking back. As you get yourself around a bend in the tunnel, you start noticing that a light beam ahead of you is becoming larger and larger. Even as you feel that you haven't got anything left in you, you keep persisting... the light beam keeps growing. And as you get around the bend lo and behold... in front of you is the end of the tunnel. Sunshine awaits your arrival as a fresh gush of wind greets you. You made it !!!

Life at times seems like a tunnel, doesn't it ? Long and winding, dark and chilly, you feel you are all alone with an unending tunnel in front of you. As you keep going further, you see a few 'crevices', small moments of joy, happiness, encouragement, inspiration... God's way of saying... "Come and relax for a while, but the journey is not over so don't be content yet, go on into the life that I planned for you to live." Unfortunately many of us make our dwelling at these crevices. Happy with the little. There will also be others who turn back, 'back-slide' into their mundane but 'safe' life. God is wanting us to push on till we reach the end. He gives us some "crevices" so that we don't despair, but are encouraged to go on, knowing that He is with us.
If you feel that you are all alone, with no hope to look forward to, remember... God is your Immanuel... God with us. He may seem a million miles away, but He's right beside you, cheering you on as you make yourself through difficulties. When you walk alone, He's actually strolling with you. When you despair, He has His arm over your shoulders.
Never ever give up... you are the apple of His eye. The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17).

"... through the storm, through the night, come what may, everything is gonna be alright.
I have known the Father's care for me, through it all He's always there for me, He's been good to me..."