This week’s beautiful thing that the Lord has revealed to me is mountains. The village we have been living in is surrounded by mountains so basically you can see them everywhere you go.
It has occurred to me this past week that seasons in my life are a lot like climbing mountains.
Each season I am faced with a new mountain to climb. As I begin climbing, I realize I cannot keep my baggage and continue on-it is too heavy for me. The Lord offers to carry the weight, but I never seem to want to let go.
What does baggage look like?
Pride, Fear, Bitterness, Comfort, Comparison, Jealousy, Gossip, etc.
It is at that point that I must make a decision: Continue to hold on to my baggage and stay put or, give my baggage to the Lord and continue climbing.
The Lord is always so patient with me. He stands before me with His hand held out, willing to carry my load and take hold of my hand.
These past three months, I have been climbing the highest mountain yet. I am happy to say that though it has not been easy, I think I have finally made it to the top. I have learned that I cannot seem to travel lightly. The baggage I had to give to the Lord this time was not expected.
I gave Him my home, my family, friends, traditions, memories made that I couldn’t be a part of.
I knew by going on the race I would be giving all these up, but I wasn’t ready to let go of them. Somehow I believed I could still hold on to them like I always had before, when in reality they now weigh me down.
Now don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying my family and friends back home are keeping me from following the Lord. That is not the case. Valuing them over the Lord and His calling for me does weigh me down to the point that I cannot continue forward.
So I made the decision to give them to the Lord. I still love my home and family and friends, but my love for them is nothing compared to my love for the Lord.
Yes, I miss them terribly. Yes, I cannot wait to see them again. Even so, I let go of them in order to continue climbing.
In that moment I felt so alone abandoned and scared.
“Keep stepping.
I AM with you.
Follow Me.”
Photo creds to Tiffany Castro
It’s such an amazing feeling when you finally make it to the top of a mountain after the long climb up. I like to call these “Mountain Top Moments.”
Now, at the top of this mountain, I can see all the Lord has taught me and how He was with me through everything.
I now realize why I had to give Him my baggage. I now see when I didn’t think I could continue on, the Lord was always there to provide me with more strength. I now see how rewarding this was-how worth it.
After each “Mountain Top Moment,” I’m soon faced with a new, higher, more strenuous mountain to climb.
I never know what to expect. I don’t know what struggles or temptations I’m going to face. I don’t know what baggage I’ll have to give up. I don’t know what lessons He’s going to teach me.
What I do know though, is the “Mountain Top Moment” will be all so worth it.
Every mountain conquered is a mountain closer to the Lord.
That is worth it to me.
