Step off the train with me for a moment and let’s try something different.
I know that you all have heard the thought that life is like a mountain, it’s a climb. There are easy parts and then there are very difficult parts, but we all have to keep moving forward to reach the other side.
For many years, I hated the idea of climbing. I am not a hiker and more so, I am not a mountain climber. It is mostly because I am not in good enough shape to make it very far and I don’t have the training necessary to survive a long trip up the side of a mountain. But as I read stories of people accomplishing some amazing feats, I also learn that the hard parts are the most rewarding. What do I mean?
When someone goes through something difficult, when they come out on the other side, they feel more accomplished and prouder of what they have done. They remember the stress and worry they felt at the beginning of the difficulty, but that makes them understand and appreciate the joy that comes with getting through it successfully. There was a definite chance of failure, but instead of getting down and panicking about it, they pushed through it with confidence knowing that they are the only ones holding themselves back from success.
Life is very much like this. When circumstances come up in our life we have the choice to give up and worry about it, or we can move forward and upward in confidence. We all have to make that choice for ourselves.
Not everyone decides to push on through the difficulties of life. At times, they choose to take the easy route, like go around the outside of the mountain. It may take longer, but it is definitely the easier path to follow. Then there are those that look at the circumstance, way the options and decide to simply stay where they are or go back to where they came from. What they don’t realize, in both cases, is that the mountain/struggle they are avoiding, is a lesson or truth that God wants to teach them. Them going around it or avoiding it all together is not going to help them grow and mature in their Christian walk.
Mountains are never meant to be easy, but we are not expected to travel them alone. Most people would not set off to climb a huge mountain without someone with them for backup in case of emergency. So, why do we expect to go through our lives that way? Your mountain, whatever it may be, can be made easier if you allow God to hold your hand or guide your way through safely. He wants to be there when you are struggling or simply starting to get tired. He wants to encourage us and show us the support we need to get whatever may step into our path.
The question that we all need to ask ourselves is: Are we going around or avoiding our mountains of life? Or are we going to allow God to help us as we start to make the climb through our difficult circumstance, our mountains?