A few days ago our squad was in Brasov, Romania for debrief, and a group of us decided to wake up at 5:30 to hike up a nearby mountain and get to the top for sunrise. We thought it would just be something fun for an Adventure day at debrief, but God had other plans.
We started hiking in pitch black, and the path was damp and also full of rocks. Needless to say every step I took was super uncertain. We were moving up the mountain and the Lord was reminding me of the uncertainty of life. Sometimes we go through life taking unsure steps forward hoping we are moving in the right direction. And sometimes we have to stop to regroup and figure out if we are actually going the right way. Or sometimes you’re scared because you really aren’t sure of where you are at, where you are going, or what’s around. On the way up the Lord reminded me that no matter how I feel on the way from the valley to the mountain top, He is ALWAYS with me. Whether it’s hard or long, He is ALWAYS faithful.
When we got to the top, God showed me his perspective. From the top of the mountain you can see everything. It was absolutely breathtaking. We played a song that says, “He never told me it would be easy, He said, suffering would come but he promised peace.”. Hearing that and watching the sunrise the Lord reminded me that the journey of life was never easy but His peace and strength get us from each valley to each mountain top: from glory to glory. But I’m also learning that in order to get from one glory to the next one, you have to climb back down the mountain to then climb back up again.
Going down the mountain was hands down the worst part, and I had to stop and laugh because the Lord was saying to me, “you’re going down into the valley and already it’s hard and you want to quit and you’re tired, don’t you remember what I showed you the perspective I gave you at the top?” I have been praying, and the Lord is telling me this next season is going to be a barren season coming to a new and slower town. This season is going to be one of uncomfortable growth and questioning, but it’s going to teach me full dependency on him. As I have been praying he’s been asking me if I’m ready to do it with him. Before, taking life in my own hands and my own strength only got me so far, BUT GOD in his perfect strength comes in every time to get me through. Especially after that hike, I’m soo ready to do the hills and valleys having his peace and strength the whole way.
Some people might just come to Brasov, Romania, and see this mountain and just think it’s a mountain. But God has shown me the significance of each season of the valley to the climb to the mountain and back down. It’s a cycle we all go through in life, but he never intended us to do it alone. He wants to cover us with His presence and peace, but we have to choose into Him in each season. We have to choose him from glory to glory. He wants to take us to amazing places, “deeper than our feet could ever wander,” it’s on us to step out of the boat when it’s hard and when it’s good to grab onto his hand and walk on the water with him.
