Living in salvation involves experiencing high points—mountaintop moments of divine encounter—and also descending into the valleys of life's difficulties. These lows are not meant to break us but to deepen our dependence on God. Interestingly, even our negative experiences—such as hatred or grief—are gifts from God. They serve a purpose: when we lose strength, God's strength becomes more apparent. Through grief and pain, God allows us to feel raw emotion, including anger, so that we can bring these feelings before Him. In His presence, He consumes and transforms our hatred and bitterness, turning them into judgments that pave the way for His glorious future kingdom. In this process, God often turns worldly experiences upside down—what seems like defeat or loss becomes a means for growth and renewal. We fight against our own hate, but in doing so, we allow God to consume it and transform us. Let me take some time to explore and explain the intricate relationship between our feelings and our faith. There are some teachings that suggest feelings naturally follow our conscious agreement or acceptance of the truth. In other words, once we recognize what is true intellectually, our emotions should align and follow suit. However, in our daily experience, feelings often seem disconnected from what we understand logically or intellectually. We may know something to be true in our minds, yet our feelings might not immediately respond or align with that knowledge. This disconnect is part of what makes us different from God. Unlike us, God is perfectly simple and unified in His nature and actions. When God declares something to be true, it is as good as accomplished—His words are powerful and effective. He makes promises and, in His sovereignty, His promises are always fulfilled. The struggles, complications, and difficulties we face in experiencing those promises are often due to our own limitations or the fallen state of the world. Nonetheless, God's order for our salvation is clear: He has declared that salvation is found solely in Him. The full realization and experience of salvation are rooted in His pursuit of us—His grace working continually to draw us into His presence. This process is akin to climbing a spiritual hill, as described by the psalmist, where we look down upon the world from a higher vantage point. From this perspective, we gain clarity and insight, understanding God's purposes more fully. We see beyond the temporary struggles and recognize the eternal truth of His kingdom. This ascent—this spiritual elevation—allows us to view life from God's perspective, filling us with hope, assurance, and a renewed sense of purpose. In essence, our journey of faith is about ascending higher—drawing closer to God's presence—so that we can better understand His divine plan and experience the fullness of His salvation. To better understand salvation, it can be helpful to compare it to a carefully crafted mixed drink. This metaphor highlights that salvation contains all the fine ingredients that lead to both delight and lasting satisfaction. When we partake of it—when we drink deeply—we experience its richness firsthand. Just as a wicked person might indulge in worldly pleasures—such as success, wealth, and temporary happiness—they consume a mixture that seems satisfying at first. Yet, these "drinks" are ultimately hollow—they are, in fact, laced with judgment and destruction. The pleasure they seek is fleeting, and what appears to be blessing turns out to be a form of spiritual poison. Our experience of salvation, on the other hand, is not just about recognizing the clear distinctions between good and evil in this world, but also about actively cheering on God in His created reality. We find joy and purpose in aligning ourselves with His divine order.