You’re going to make it.
Up that mountain and through all the chaos and questions and uncertainties – you’re going to make it.
More importantly, you’re going to look back and it will be worth it.
Not because you’ve learned a lesson or two or because the pain has lessoned with time. No – it will be worth it because in all the yuck and the painful, God is bringing glory to Himself and using you to tell His story.
Last Friday I was grabbing lunch in our school food court and as I went to sit down, I saw one of my best friends waving from a corner table. She was working on a couple big projects with looming deadlines, one particular project determining where she’ll spend the next few years of her life.
With everything going on, she couldn’t shake the weight on her shoulders or the enormity of the climb in front of her.
She’s more than capable to complete the work and she’s one of the most wonderful, encouraging people I’ve ever met – but in that moment I could see it. She needed encouragement.
The mountain isn’t too big, but the journey may be long and she needs strength and encouragement to continue.
Later that evening my heart kept thinking of a dear friend that I see every day. For whatever reason, I felt like something was a bit off, so I sent a quick text asking how she was really doing, and the worries spilled out.
Sometimes it’s hard to focus on the present when we’re so caught up in figuring out the future. There’s a time and a place for planning, but if we miss today then what’s the point in worrying about tomorrow?
My dear friend, she’s in a place with a lot of questions and options for a lot of tomorrow’s…but she doesn’t feel a peace toward any of the options laid in front of her.
There are too many paths up the mountain, none of which are clear to her.
When I woke up the next morning and opened my Jesus Calling devotional, a laugh slid out of my mouth because this is just the way God works in my life. He brings opportunities to encourage and love on others, to build them up and speak life, pour out love, but He does it through Him.
I am honored to tell His story, to be a small piece.
I snapped a picture of the devotional for that day, sent it to my two friends, and was filled with joy seeing God’s Word encourage them.
That mountain you’re climbing, friend? Picture it in your mind right now. Think about the endless steps you think you’re going to have to take, the long way around, the running out of breath exhaustion from the climb, and the frustration from walking one path only to reach a dead end and begin again.
And then release it. All of it.
Let. It. Go.
And just let God.
Let God carry you, let God comfort you, let God strengthen you, let God provide people to walk with and encourage you on the journey.
There are things I could say, encouraging words that come to mind that have kept me going on the hard days and the bad days. But when He gave me those words in that devotional on Saturday morning, I believe He meant them for more than me and my two friends.
I believe He meant them for you, too.
Follow Me one step at a time. That is all I require of you. In fact, that is the only way to move through this space/time world. You see huge mountains looming, and you start wondering how you’re going to scale those heights. Meanwhile, because you’re not looking where you’re going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now. As I help you get back on your feet, you tell Me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead. But you don’t know what will happen today, much less tomorrow. Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountains than is visible from this distance. If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb. I will even give My angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways.
Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying My Presence. Walk by faith, not by sight, trusting Me to open up the way before you. (Jesus Calling, February 1)
With your help I can advance against a troop; with My God I can scale a wall. Psalm 18:29
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
You’re going to make it.
The view will be spectacular.
And every bit of it, every hard moment, frustration, and bad day – it will all be worth it.
He will carry. He is strength. He is always good.
Walk by faith, not by sight. The story He is writing is a good one.
I’m linking up with Holley Gerth and Jennifer Dukes Lee’s #tellhisstory community today! The prompt for Holley’s Coffee For Your Heart link-up was: What are the encouraging words you want to hear when you’re having a bad day?
