Around the Year with Emmet Fox - 23 September 2010
THE TIDE FLOWS IN AND OUT
We do not make our spiritual unfoldment in a steady straight line. Human nature does not work in that way. No one moves upward in a path of unbroken progress to the attainment of perfections. What happens is that we move forward steadily for a while, and then we have a little set back. Then we move forward again, and presently we may have another setback. These setbacks are not important as long as the general movement of our lives is forward.
The tide flows in and out. The foremost wave comes in and in, and it seems as thought it would never stop until it reached high-water mark -- but it does stop, and actually goes back, and if one did not know better he would suppose that that was the end of the matter. But it is not. The tide goes back a little, but not to it's old mark, and then it comes on again and this time it makes a higher mark. This mode of progressions seems to be general throughout nature.
Do not watch the individual waves but keep your attention on the tide, and all will be well.
Then he say unto them, Go your way...for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10)