Growing up, my family spent a great deal of time in Colorado. I was along for the ride but as I got older I began to notice the magnificence of the abounding nature that surrounded me. My husband and I have settled into Colorado for a few weeks and when praying about the writing today, God put on it on my heart to look a little deeper into the significance of the mountains. So here I am sitting at the kitchen table and doing a little research and very quietly and deliberately, a most stately and beautiful mule deer walks by, just feet way from my open window. Surely he was sent down from the mountain as an encouragement. That might sound totally nuts to you but that is so often the way I find that God engages with my thoughts. And I truly believe that if you are still, quiet and watching with expectation that God will engage with your thoughts as well. Is sounds a little crazy but when you get in that habit it is such a remarkable reminder of God’s presence.
Ok, back to the mountains. When you look at the formation of a mountain, it is wide at the bottom and gets narrower and narrower as you look up. The bottom of a mountain is often referred to as the Valley. And the view from a mountaintop makes the valley look really small. Right? In so many of the stories in the bible when Jesus exits a crowd or when He needs some quiet time, or he needs some special time with his disciples, he retreats to the mountains. The mountains are referred to 154 times in the bible, and here are a few things that happened on those mountains: The garden of Eden supposedly was on a mountain, Noah and his Arc ended up on a mountain, Moses brought God’s commandments down from mountain, Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac on a mountain and on a mountain was where Solomon built God’s temple. So mountains are pretty significant because they are the highest ground on this earth and the closest earthly place to what we know as heaven.
So that is how mountains are represented in scripture but how many times do we make mountains out of little things as well as what we believe to be insurmountable obstacles in our lives? I
can ‘t even count the times that I have done that. And thinking through this, it reminds me of the familiar quote about making a “mountain out of a molehill”. We can make a mountain out of fear, insecurity, envy, pride, anger, addiction, grief and even trying to manage a healthcare issue or an overwhelming report of a diagnosis, etc. But though these things are gripping there is nothing too hard for God to help us overcome or work through. These are mountains we have created and God tells us that through faith he can move mountains... so that we can begin our assent to HIS. Matthew 17:20 ..Oh ye of little faith,...
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
The only way to climb the mountain to God is not to look at the immense climb but to ask God to escort you, in HIS time with a pace that he knows you are able to maintain. HIS Mountain is a climb that we are all making in our own way. Some climb faster than others and some need time to process what is being or has been accomplished before they continue on. But one thing we all need to do is strive to not just look in awe of the majesty of a mountain and its beauty but to be willing to climb it. The higher we allow God to manage our thoughts, the more we will learn to trust His ways, thus giving us a peace that will ultimately release much anguish and frustration that we many times find when we try to go at whatever it is that is before us without his help. Earthly distractions and torments that this world has to offer will seem to gently fade from the forefront and no longer be the focus.
A mountain begins with a wide base (the world), and the higher we climb, the narrower it becomes. The higher we go (the more we choose to rely on God) the less room there is for compromise to the worlds’ gravitating desire to empower us. God in his providence is an almighty God, rich in blessings, forgiving of our sins and misgivings, and always intent on helping us to trust him as he guides us up his heavenly mountain in order to bring us closer to Him.
Marvin Gaye had a song years ago that I am pretty sure was not God driven but the chorus says:
“Ain’t no mountain high enough, Ain’t no valley low enough, Ain’t no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you babe”…. and this is true of the Lord. You will probably have that tune in your head for a while…Ha! So whats wrong with that?
Oh Lord, It is your Mountain that I know you want us to strive to climb, in thought, word and deed. Help us to stay focused and remember that it is on high that you reign and no matter what is going on in our lives and in this world that YOU will remain victorious. We are all capable of making our own molehills out to be mountains, and when we forfeit our opportunity to entrust you as our loving guide when we fall into a valley of discontent and frustration. Keep us mindful of you in the midst of our daily life and help us find joy and peace as we seek you! Amen
I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
Praise God wherever you are, or whatever situation He has allowed you to be in....His glory will shine through!
