Climb
Many years ago, my husband and I were invited to join the Methodist Hospital Family and friends for an event in Colorado. When we got to our destination, it was tucked into a valley surrounded by “up close” mountains, one which was branded as Table Top. In my younger years my streak of adventure was in full bloom and on one of our days there, my husband and I set out to climb the mountain from which the ranch was named. The beginning was rather easy, just some high brush, and cacti, and dodging of trees, but the higher we got the more difficult it got. For it became steeper and the lava rocks were hard to negotiate, so we had to move slowly and deliberately and find solid footing in the midst of slippery ground. There was no trail, only the remnants of tracks of animals, who were much more experienced at trail blazing.
We often talk about a mountaintop experiences and how hard it is to come down, but I want to spin it just a bit and talk about the climb up. We have all been in valleys, a low place in the midst of high challenges, high expectations, overwhelming defeats and overwrought emotional charges. They are brought on by fear, inconsistency, heartbreak, health, financial stress, relationship changes, responsibility overload, just to name a few. And many times when we look up towards the sky and imagine the mountain, the challenge to climb up is so out of reach and out of touch that we settle in and accept our valley view.
To climb God's mountain, we do have to take small steps of faith and plant them carefully into truths and promises that are the foundation below our feet. We have to take our time and stop and take breaths and regroup along the way. The thing too about stopping, is it is not only to take a breathe but also to look around and see how far you have come and how even at the level you are at, the view has gained a wider perspective. The higher we climb God's mountain, the closer we get to him and the more able we are to see things that he sees.
Though the trails on our journey upward may be tedious and not well defined, we must keep our eyes on the goal of reaching new heights. There are those who have gone before us and have given us stories to motivate and encourage us to keep on climbing but it is God who will give us the strength and the direction to get to where he has called us to be. Our journeys are all different, and we will be challenged to trudge through whatever trial God has set before us. But with courage, faith and a willingness to put our trust in God, he will lead us to his mountaintop of love, acceptance, wisdom and grace.
When we finally had made it to the top, the view was breathtaking, and the climb was well worth the efforts. For a view from the top gives you a glorious perception of a whole panoramic picture, that you only see pieces of from the valley. We met the challenge. The view was spectacular, and as we stood among the brush, we walked further along the table top, and sure enough just a few yards deeper into the forest, a clearing emerged. It was a flat top mountain top with a blanket of small, short uniformed bushes all in perfected height and rows. It was amazing to see the contrast as to what we had just trudged through. I know this might be stretching an analogy, but when we finally make our way to the top of God's mountain and we give in and give up to God all that is really his in the first place, he does provide for us a blanket of his perfect peace.
Mark 3:13
[ Jesus Appoints the Twelve ] Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.
Times will be hard, and the challenges many, as we journey through life. But as long as we climb upward, taking small steps of faith and making sure our footing is firmly planted on the truth and promises of God, everyday we can make it to God's mountaintop. And it is there that we will find His woven of blanket of peace, love and joy that covers all the insecurities, the heartbreaks, the sins, the malfunctions, the defeats, the failures, and the broken dreams.
Our perspectives changes only when we stand at the base of the mountain and we are willing to make the climb up God's mountain. Sure there will be slippery rocks, and unchartered territory on all of our journeys. But God uses our one little step of faith upward to change our valley perspective to one of His mountaintop view.
Today, we spend a great deal of time in Colorado, and the mountains that surround us are not only massive but such reflections of the majesty and glory of God's creation. When we are faced with a mountain of fear, discouragement, disappointment, or painful circumstances, we have choices: 1) Go around it, deny the situation as best you can, go through it…2) barge forward in self reliant fashion, or 3) go over it and let God heighten your focus on him, trusting that circumstances are often times beyond our control but never beyond God’s
Picture the shape of a mountain. It starts out wide at the bottom -- the higher we climb, the narrower it becomes -- and the more we must stay close to the center. As we go even higher yet, there's less room to move to the left or the right -- and there's less and less ground that can be compromised -- the more focused we need to be and the less we can afford to be distracted. The higher we go, the less room we have to fool around!
Whatever you may be dealing with, you may just need to separate yourself and climb up to spend time with the Lord -- get centered on Him and focused on what He's calling you to.
Dear Lord, Thank you for the beauty that surrounds us, and the chance to experience your mountaintop views. May we learn to let the view of valley perspectives be transformed by your blanket of love that we can only find when we climb up into your ways and allow you to show us the glory, grace and power of your works. Amen
Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!
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