LENT: day 3: Jesus says NO to fearing the mountains

Matthew 17:20-21 ” I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there,’ and you will see it move. ‘ There is nothing you couldn’t do.”

While vacationing in Colorado a friend of mine picked up 3 wood plaques with these words ” The Mountains are my happy place.” I’m sure she was in a rustic looking tourist shop at the end of a trail at a National park. I’m sure she was surrounded by beautiful mountains and may just have completed an invigorating climb up one of them. I’m sure she was feeling happy, content and satisfied as she enjoyed a week in the middle of Gods glorious creation. I’m also sure the reason she purchased those 3 plaques to give to 3 friends back in Missouri had nothing to do with the beauty all around her. I’m very sure it had everything to do with the mountain we were currently all climbing together called : The study of the book of Romans.

When we began this study – the teaching leader told us our year in this book would often times feel like a mountain climb. Challenging, intimidating, requiring discipline and determination to stick with it. She told us we may want to quit before we reach the top and made us promise to never give up. She told us it would be worth it. She told us the climb would strengthen our trust in our God who had created this particular Mountain for our good and his glory. Up we went.

As I move my way through life I have discovered that it is full of Mountains. Challenging, often seemingly insurmountable seasons that upon face value feel impossible. I woke up today feeling the weight of 3 of those mountains . These mountains encompass physical, financial and relational giants that today- felt crushing.
Over the last hour I have focused on one verse- the Bible gateway verse of the day -1 Corinthians 10:13. TPT “We all experience times of testing ( MOUNTAINS) which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature and timing of every test or trial so that you can beat it ( climb it) and each test ( MOUNTAIN) is an opportunity to trust him more and for along every trial GOD has provided a way of escape that will bring you out victoriously.
My takeaways:

1. Every human will face trials. Every single one. The lie that I am alone in my mountain climb is just that – a lie. Someone in my world understands what I am going through.
2. God is completely aware of the trial(s) or Mountains I have been asked to climb. He Understands them better then us because he can see the end. He knows the areas of our life that need refining, strengthening and growth and also knows that it is through struggle that these traits will come.
3. God is with us in the climb. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He promises to show us a way out, or up- whichever the case May be. He knows we can’t handle this mountain on our own and knows on our own we couldn’t possibly even begin the journey. He is suited up and ready to guide us through the season HE has allowed.

As I reflected on this verse I felt the weight lift. The mountains that were literally crushing my heart and soul were lifted. I pictured myself out from underneath the mountains and standing strong at the base of the mountains- eagerly looking up to the one who had already started up the trail. He was looking back, beckoning me on. He had a backpack full of all the answers to the questions I had. He would reveal them as I followed at the times he knew I needed them and not necessarily when I wanted them. Like a mother navigating the snacks packed for church. If she gave them all out in the car on the way the child would never make it through the entire service. Oh how my flesh wants all the snacks, all the answers right now. How good that God is the great trail blazer and knows best.

Did you wake up crushed by your mountain or did you wake up ready to climb?

If crushed – I encourage you to spend some significant time with your trail guide – Jesus. Look at his promises that will never fail. Look and look and look until you feel the weight lift.

If you are ready to climb- I encourage you to spend significant time with your trail guide- Jesus. Look and look and look until you surrender your strength to his. To have a confidence that HE is the strength giver and the way maker.

As I leave my time with Jesus today- I thank him for my mountains both present and those in the past. I remember his clear track record for past successful climbs and have an eager heart for the next ones. Oh Mountains…. you indeed are my happy place.

Loving you where you are and pointing you forward to where He is,

justbeth:)