You can’t always experience the joy of being on the mountaintop. You have to endure the mundane and uncertainty of living in a valley.
-Anna Davis
This summer I went on a backpacking trip. It was one of the most amazing adventures I have ever been on. God put together the group perfectly. There was not one person I would have not wanted on the trip, and there was not one person that could have made it better.
These people became so close to me in the short 7 days we were on trail. We laughed together, cried together, and we struggled and rejoiced together.
We had many adventures. We had a few hard days. Both physically and emotionally. But we always made it to the peak.
We swam in frigidly cold alpine lakes
And we had many more adventures, some that will just stay on trail 😉 But we always ended up seeing God in everything we did.
On the 4th or 5th day, we had what is called “Peak Day”. This is the day where we wake up early, and then (thank you Nick) scale a mountain like a goat.
But we made it to the top.
Along the way, Ryan read the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. When we got to the top, we all stood in awe of God’s great creation.
As we sat there, I was reminded that no matter how lost we felt wandering in the forest, or swimming in the middle of a lake, this view always existed, just like God’s plan for us. No matter how mundane life feels of upsetting it is, God always has this view planned for us in the future.
I find myself feeling grumpy or like life is not “exciting” right now. Or that I am not really sure what I am supposed to be doing with my time before the World Race. But I have to remind myself that I can’t always see the view, or feel the exhilaration of the mountaintop.
I will have to remind myself of this on the World Race as well. Although, from the outside, I am sure that it will look glorious and amazing, which it will be, at times.
It will be one of the hardest mountains I have ever climbed. I will be pushed to my limit in all aspects, but I believe that I will come out stronger and more on fire for our God who created the heavens and the earth.
So if you are feeling lost in a valley of mundane or fear, remember that there is a mountaintop, somewhere, where you will be able to see a peak of the view that God has planned.
And it will be worth the struggle.
