Mountains

He saw it as a mountain, we saw it as cliffs. We headed to the lake this weekend and were blessed to have all three daughters and all babies join us. My grand babies are 5, almost 4, almost 3 and 1and William (4) just has a thing about climbing the mountain....to him it is an awesome adventure that he considers to be a huge feat of success when he has reached its peak. We have done this before and the desire to do it again and again remains in tact. We were off... Jamie carrying Sam in a front pack (don't know what the real name is), and the others were on their own, because a good part of the adventure was being able to stop and investigate anything that looked interesting.

We were visiting at breakfast as we looked out at the "mountain" before our big climb and my daughter Jennifer said that this week her bible study leader Pam had talked about the "mountain" road. The mountain road she explained is relative. To some, what looks to be a mountain is merely a hill ...while others see hills while we see mountains. The way that we perceive things is relative...it relates to personalities, to processing, to experiences, to embedded truths and to enabled abilities. We are all faced with situations that seem monumental especially when we stand looking from bottom to top, which is where our perceptions are generated. But in thinking about it a minute, I have realized that God sees things from a top to bottom perspective. He looks down while we are to look up. To William that cliff was tall and overwhelming and a feat that accomplished by a four year is an outstanding one at best. To us, it was a short climb to see a most beautiful overview of the lake. But when you are little so many things look so big.....and then we grow up and those things that looked so big at one time ....are not so monumental. Even we as adults look back on some of life events and find that at the time things looked so different that they do in hindsight.

It is true of each of us ...I have said it and I am sure that many of you have as well. How can I be worried about thus and so... my trail seems so little as compared to someone else's? But when something in our world is rattled by grief, or suffering on any front...it is an issue that is relative...it is one that does effect our emotions, and our thoughts and our actions... one that we do have to figure out how to climb up or go around or tunnel through. It may look overwhelming and over our heads as we stand at its base, but if we come before whatever mountain that is before us knowing: that in our weakness God is strong, and... we maintain a faithful trust that God can and will give us the strength, the confidence, the courage and the wisdom to approach our mountain in hope....we are leaps and bounds ahead of the next person who is trying like crazy to do it on their own. My mountain and your mountain will be different. But we are not called to compare them and feel that one is lesser or one is greater...we are called to face them...in faith....using the gifts that we have been given, and standing on the promises that we know to be true.

But just as my William viewed this as a mountain....and we viewed it as a cliff....we too have been given opportunities to not only face our own mountains but be at the foot with others as they face theirs. We may be able, though our own experiences to settle down someone else's anxious thoughts or, calm a racing heart of fear, or encourage someone who is weary to embrace a heavenly perspective...all the while remembering that God is at the top watching us as we climb towards him.

Our perspectives may vary but the mountain is what it is...it does not change ...it is us who have to change the way we look at it and open our eyes to see things from a different viewpoint....and approach it from a different perspective...God's. What we have found to be easy...others may find to be filled with difficulty....and vice versa. We are not to judge or criticize but to come alongside and encourage others just as many of us have been encouraged.
I chose the following verse as a reminder that God tests our faith and trust sometimes by the mountains we face. For even Christ was tested on a mountain!
Matthew 4:7-9 (New International Version, ©2011)

7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.']"8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."


So what mountain are you facing? Have you found yourself standing at its base in fear and anxiousness....or have you made up your mind to take the first step upwards in faith...and trust that God is not only watching you but is climbing alongside you. For he knows your mountain and together you will one day be able to stand on top of it and look out and over and see HIS much bigger picture than you did at the base.

Dear Lord, Help me to know that though my mountains my seem small in comparison to many that each of them are just as important to you as you shape me through my climb. Help me to embrace trust and faith in you as I stand at the base of any of my mountains, knowing that you will give me the strength, the courage and forbearance to accomplishment lofty goals that you have purposed. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!