Mountain! You’ve Gotta’ Move!

That’s me in this photo at the Cascade Mountains of Washington. I know mountains. I’ve climbed them. I’ve gazed at their beauty from a distance. I’ve skied down them. I’ve driven the winding roads to the top of them and embraced the beauty from the top looking down. And I know MOUNTAINS — those vast, enormous obstacles and circumstances that seem beyond overwhelming.

We think that if only those mountains were removed, our lives might be more peaceful. But, there must be mountains to appreciate the valleys. And perhaps, God, in all His wisdom, is wanting us to scale those mountains. He is wanting us to hike up those mountains for a “mountain-top experience” where we are refreshed, restored, nourished, and where we receive divine revelation. His motives are always intended to help us grow our faith, strengthen our resolve, and equip us to take on any mountain that may be standing in our way.

I sang along as my car radio played Lauren Daigle’s “I Will Trust in You”. I meant the words as I belted them out with her:

“When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move;
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through;
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You; I
will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You.”

It’s difficult to trust someone when they’ve let us down by mistakes they made and we wonder if we can ever trust them again. But not so with our God. He is dependable, true, honest, unwavering, loving and faithful in all His ways. So when our mountains aren’t moving, we can do but one thing – trust in He Who knows best. Our Father knows best.

I speak from firsthand experience…..again. Amazingly, during the mountain experiences — through the struggles, heartaches, and weariness from the “climbs”, I experienced more of God’s love. It’s unlike anything the world can offer. Sure, I’ve shed many a tear, but God extended strength, peace, and joy during the most difficult times. Only God, the Creator of all good things, could have carried me through those times. And, the best news is — climbing those mountains and surviving them, gave me tenacity, determination AND the survival skills to know “There ain’t no mountain high enough to keep God’s love from me!” Climbing those mountains gave me determination. Once they intimidated me. Now they draw me closer to the ONE Who climbs them with me and gets me to the TOP!

Do you ever stop to consider God’s point of view when you’re going through a hard time? He’s a good, loving Father. He could have changed circumstances with a snap of His holy fingers, but He decided on the slow – let her “trust in Me” grow-times. I can see clearly now. He wanted me to share my story with others who have experienced pain, loss and disappointment. Maybe He saw how it all would strengthen my faith and the faith of others. Maybe He saw how He would be glorified.

I know that God intervenes for me far more than I realize. Many times, what I thought were ginormous mountains were really just mole hills. He gave me an “out” when I least expected it. I sure don’t know it all, but I do know I need to trust my good, loving Father with the mountains AND the mole hills. Whatever those mountains look and seem like in our lives today, let’s call on our awesome Mountain-Mover Who with nothing is impossible!

“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.” – Matthew 17:20