30. The Only Way Out is Through

 30. The Only Way Out is Through

I love this phrase. I think it to myself practically everyday. 

Here are some scenarios where it fits in no particular order of importance:

• Exercise

• Difficult conversations

• Global pandemics

• New Learning

• Haunted houses

• Quarantine

• Life

• Eliminating debt

• Getting through someone’s annoying blog post :)

To me the phrase means that going through something, which may or may not be unpleasant, has some sort of reward on the other side of the something. 

Wednesday night, Bryan McCallister, our preacher, shared a list of ideas and suggestions to adopt when getting “through” just seems too daunting. 

His thoughts came from Roman 12:9-18:

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Bryan’s list:

• Get sick and let people serve you.

• Believe that others are praying for you.

• Make a plan, regardless of how you feel, and carry it out.

• Wake up at the same time every day.

• Read THE book everyday.

• Listen daily to what God says about you.

• Hear, Discern, but don’t believe what the world says about God. 

• Read more than one book at a time.

• Be intentional with your speech.

• Daily tell your spouse, children, those closest to you, they are valuable and loved.

Isn’t that a great list? Bryan is like that. I would encourage you to tune into wscoc.com and hear him for yourself. 

When I looked up the original quote of the phrase “the only way out is through” I learned that it is actually from Robert Frost in his poem, “Servant of Servants.” 

Here is the excerpt (it’s a very long poem):

Len says one steady pull more ought to do it. He says the best way out is always through.

I like the origins. It seems to be saying that just one more row, one more push, one more prayer, just steadily holding on, will get us through to the other side.

I know you are going through something right now. Even if it's “only” a global pandemic. And, that's probably not all. I hope these words can encourage your heart a little and help you hold on.

The best way out is always through.