“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” JEREMIAH 29:13, NIV
After exploring the bamboo forest in Maui, we continued our hike higher and higher up the mountain path. The higher we went, the thicker and denser the rain forest became. There are actually four distinct parts of the rainforest. At the very top is the emergent layer. These trees are taller than the surrounding trees. Below that is the canopy layer. These are the rest of the tall treetops that create a shady covering for the forest floor below. Below that is the under story layer; this is from the canopy down. Finally, there’s the forest floor.
As I walked through the rain forest, it was fun to observe the different types of plants and creatures that live in each habitat. For example, some creatures spend their lives in their layer, never coming down to the forest floor or exploring the treetops. As we walked, we followed a stream upward that started getting bigger and bigger. Soon it had become a roaring river, and up ahead we could see that there was an enormous cliff wall. Soon, a four-hundred-foot-tall cliff towering above us came into view, and we were able to see where the water of this river came from. Moments later a four-hundred-foot-tall-waterfall came fully into a view. We crawled over some rocks to get a little closer to where the water fell into a pool at the bottom. As we approached the base of the waterfall, a fine mist enveloped us, and we stood there looking up in amazement.
It took total commitment for me to get to the waterfall. Without being willing to sacrifice and go through struggles, I never would have experienced it. The same is true when you get to know God.
Our BIBLE verse today reminds us that if you seek God with all your heart you will discover the beauty of who He is.