In our lives, we travel on smooth ground until we turn a bend and suddenly a mountain looms before us. We step back intimidated, wondering how we will overcome this incredible obstacle. Yet, we can face it bravely or turn and surrender.
These mountains constitute the formidable challenges we face in our lives. More than annoyances or conflicts, they are the ones that alter our lives and threaten to spin us out of control. They may be marital problems, car accidents, legal, financial, family or health issues. In their specific contexts, all of them can be devastating.
Scripture brims with people who faced their mountains.
Abram faced complete disruption when God commanded him to leave his home (Genesis 12:1-2). God called Moses to overcome his fears and stand before Pharaoh to lead an entire nation (Exodus 3:7-12).
Job faced the loss of everything (Job 1:13-22), while Daniel and Joseph found themselves suffering for being righteous (Daniel 6; Genesis 39:5-10). Paul dealt with what he called the thorn in the flesh and the limitations it placed on his ministry (2 Corinthians 12:2-9).
Esther faced the possible loss of her life by standing up her for people (Esther 4), while Abigail overcame the ignorance of her husband and the probable destruction of all that she knew (1 Samuel 25).
Jesus’ daunting challenge came in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:31ff) while Peter’s and Judas’
mountain loomed large in the fog of deception (Luke 22:54-62; Mark 14:43-47).
How do we surmount these mountains?
First, we must soberly address them. When we see them for what they really are, they lose some of their mystique. Our mountains arise because of our weaknesses, because we do what is right or for no discernible reason. They may be there simply because Satan’s construction company has been busy.
When we see them for what they are, we become empowered by their diminishing size. We lose our fear and begin to develop a plan to conquer the foe. If the mountain is because of our weaknesses, we begin correcting our mistakes and putting things right again.
Second, we turn the mountain over to God and allow him to lead us to safety. He strengthens us and remains with us every step of the way (Hebrews 13:5; Ephesians 1:19).
We know that, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV). Faith tells God that we are completely dependent upon the wisdom, power and abilities of the Lord (James 4:10).
We can conquer our mountains through the persistence of faith and our unstoppable Savior. Through him, the mountains become smaller until we are able to step foot on solid ground with the defeated mountain in our dust.
Christ then goes with us as we face more challenges on our path to the Promised Land. In so doing, we find that every mountain we conquer makes us stronger and more resolved to defeat the next.
Through Jesus, we become transformed (Romans 12:1-2) and able to handle whatever stands before us because we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens [us]” (Philippians 4:13).