A couple of weeks ago, I reached a place financially that is not the most desirable. The reality of my situation sank in, that I had done the best I could with my money and still found myself in a hole, and that’s when fear started to creep in. I believe I would have thought about it differently if would have made some bad decisions, and of course there are MANY things I need to be better at financially, but like I said, I had done the best I could.
In this time I had talked to my parents and godfather literally right before one of my teammates asked me how I was doing, and I opened up to her about my situation as well. All of the conversations went well and they gave me hope and peace, but it didn’t erase the reality.
A couple of days after that, we were with our host in Washington. He wanted to take us on a hike that he enjoys and has done many times before. We started the ascent, and I had no expectations or worries about the hike. About half way up, some one mentioned that there was an enclosed lookout point that had mice in it and around it (rats/mice are one of my biggest fears). I just thought that I would steer clear of that and find another nice place to watch the sunset. After hiking for nearly two hours, we reached the top. The only “top” was the enclosed lookout point, and the only way to get to it was to climb about 20 feet of big rocks and then a ladder (my biggest is heights).
I realized that I had to make a choice much faster than I wanted to, and for some reason I decided to climb up. I got to the top and in to the look out point and this is what I saw:
After spending some time taking in the view, this is what I heard God say, “If you want to experience more of me, you’ll have push past your fears.” Now I know that heights and rats wouldn’t phase most people, but for me it was a big deal. And the Lord was able to use that to teach me more about himself.
Just like pushing past my fear of rodents and heights to be able to see a view of the sunset that I’d never seen before; Choosing to be faithful during a time when it would have been easy to look elsewhere led me to a place of humility and I got to experience the character of God in a way that I never had before.
Just like the Israelites in Joshua 6, Elijah in 1 Kings 18, and all throughout the Bible obedience came before freedom.
For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness take it’s full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. -James 1:3-4. And James 1:12 tells us that once we have stood the test, we will receive the promise of the crown of life.
God used two small examples in my life to teach this very important truth, and I am so thankful for that.
