I’ve been thinking about mountains, and when I see Jesus in heaven, He will have a beautiful mountain ready just for me.
As I wrote this, I sat on a mountain in Arkansas, remembering the different mountains I’ve climbed. Like other mountains worldwide, there are many spiritual mountains, each filled with beauty yet harboring dangers.
As a girl, I went on vacations to the Smoky Mountains, and that is when I fell in love with them. They were so green and beautiful. When my family was stationed in Arkansas, our church youth group went to Colorado for a conference, and I was a chaperone. Oh, what beautiful mountains are in Colorado? While in Arkansas, I had a spiritual mountain I would climb again.
My hubby was going back to Iraq. He had gone before in 1991 to Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and I was just a young wife with two babies, watching the love of my life go off to war in a country I had never heard of before. And now he was going back.
I was home on December 21st, 2005, and the kids went to school. Sometime that morning, my pastor called and asked how I was and if I’d heard from Michael. I did not that day, but we talked the day before. Then he asked if I’d seen the news that a mess hall in Iraq had been blown up and wondered if it was where Michael was.
This mountain was now very steep and rocky. Because I stayed in Arkansas, I didn’t have a family support group or a rear detachment to contact and get information from, so I had to wait and hear from Michael or get the news on TV.
Then, our family started calling. By now, I had turned on the TV and saw that it was where Michael was, and they were talking about what had happened. It had been lunchtime, and the mess tent was full of soldiers eating their lunches. Then, an Iraqi strapped with explosives went in and pulled the pin. Several were hurt and killed.
As I watched the news, a picture came across the screen. It was from inside the mess tent. It was smoky, and tables and chairs were scattered everywhere. Soldiers were everywhere. And right in the center, I saw him. He was standing, bending down to help another, and though I couldn’t see his face, it was my man.
I turned off the TV and started giving God praise while praying for the ones wounded and the families of those killed. When others from the church called, I told them I hadn’t heard from Michael, but I knew he was okay. I didn’t like this mountain. But I learned to trust God as we climbed to the top together.
Then, my family was stationed in Germany again. This time, I was blessed to climb the Alps. My family was in the Boy Scouts, and we traveled to Berchtesgaden. One of the sights the boys wanted to visit was The Eagles Nest, so we climbed up the mountain. Once we reached the peak, I was in awe. As I sat there worshiping God for His beautiful creation, He reminded me that we had climbed a spiritual mountain together. Then he showed me that we were standing together, physically, on another mountain.
Oh, how I love mountains. I’d tell you if you ever asked me where I wanted to live for the rest of my life. Berchtesgaden, Germany. There is just something about that mountain that I love. The beauty and peace you feel, as well as God’s presence, are always there.
God’s Word mentions some mountain climbers. Noah went up a mountain with lots of water. Moses was called to lead the Israelites from a burning Bush. And then he went up again to receive God’s law. Each time he met with God, his face shone with the glory of being in his Presence.
Jesus also would spend time with his Father on the mountain. He gave his life lessons while teaching on a mountain.
For every mountaintop joy, there has to be a valley. And then the climb back up again. Each one has a lesson to learn. Our growth will always come while we’re in the valley, and climbing will usually be challenging. It’s where we learn to trust God and who He is. We will often stumble over the rocks of temptation and the boulders of our sin, but God’s wonderful promise is that He walks beside us to hold us when our footing is slipping.
Then, when we are out of breath, and our feet and hands are bloody from the sharp rocks, we hear him say, “You’ve got this, just a little further.” Then we reach the top again, and there He is, celebrating the climb with us, and we feel the joy and beauty all around us.
Let me encourage you today. Remember that you are not alone in the valley or on the climb. God is a great mountain climber with you on each rocky path. Keep on worshipping him.
And if you’re at the top, rejoice. Yes, look around, see God’s glory, and listen to the sounds of His creation. Remember the climb so you can have faith in the next valley when you return.
“He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.17.20
