Dealing with the peaks and valleys of our lives

How easy is it to live life when all is well? When we are on top of the mountain, we feel invincible. We feel strong; we are happy and full of life. There is only one problem with that. We don't get to STAY on top. The majority of our lives are lived in the valleys below.
The mountain top represents our peak experiences in life. For me, as an example, that was last Sunday. However, as great as that time was, the effect eventually wore off as it always does. That is not to say that life is bad or anything like that. It means that there are always issues and even problems that "bring you back down to earth", so to speak. It's not to say that other people bring you down. Life has a way of doing that for you. Have enough problems coming at you at the same time and all of the sudden, you find yourself back down the slope.
We can't sustain life on the mountain top. To even attempt to do so is foolhardy. We would begin to search and crave highs and we would then miss out on the rest of life. Sure, we live most of our lives "in the valley". That's alright. It should make us enjoy those mountain top experiences all the more. They are few and far between. we should remember them and more importantly, remember how God has helped us in the valley and brought us up the mountain. By focusing on the positive rather than the negative, it becomes easier to survive the down times. By remembering that "this too shall pass" we can keep from going into emotional tailspins or depression, which can keep us from even trying to climb the mountains that could be right ahead of us.
How many of know exactly what God has in store for us? Without choosing to move forward, we will never know. We could choose to give up and to be down. By doing that, we deprive ourselves of what could have been an incredible and transformational experience.
What I'm saying is this. Life is full of troubles. It really is. Much of what happens in our lives comes as a result of choices that we have made. Additionally, much of our attitudes about life are formed by our reactions to events that have happened, rather than the actual events themselves.
Our lives are blessings. Each breath is a cherished gift that must be viewed that way. It's incredibly easy to take that gift for granted. We can get into the "woe is me" mode at the drop of a hat, if we want. How do we avoid this? By thanking the Lord for his goodness and provision. This helps to keep from being selfish and self-absorbed.
It is not a recipe for avoiding troubles. Those WILL happen, regardless of faith. Jesus tells us that in this life, there WILL be troubles. We will have problems. We are NOT guaranteed health, wealth and power in this life. There are absolutely NO Biblical grounds for that type of thinking. You CAN take individual scriptures and TWIST them out of context to say something like "Jesus will grant me whatever I ask as long as I ask for it in his name..." Yet, that is out of context and frankly shows that we are thinking of our Savior as Santa or a genie in a bottle who is waiting to do our bidding.
So sorry, I don't have any ways for you to AVOID problems, but I CAN tell you how to DEAL with them when they do appear. TRUST. Trust that you will come out the troubles a better and stronger person. No one can see the end of the storm when you are in the midst of it. That is why you TRUST. Trust the one who CAN see the other side of your storm. By doing that, by placing your faith in Jesus, your troubles begin to look surmountable. The valleys are less deep and more livable. The mountains begin to appear on the horizon and before you know it, you begin to climb up one. Then, get ready for the ride!