I don’t know about you, but I find rocks to be quite fascinating.
They come in so many shapes and sizes and they are so unique. There is not one that is the same. Last October while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, I encountered so many rocks. And there was a particular early morning when we had to climb a wall of rocks and it was important where we placed our feet. We had to pay attention and be mindful of each step we took.
As I gazed toward how far we had to go and also how far we had come, I could not help but notice the presence of Jesus who crafted this path long before we knew we would make our way there. And Jesus guided each tiny step. With a little trembling and misstep from time to time, He showed me there may appear to be an obvious path ahead but sometimes you must take the path you aren’t expecting as this could be the opportunity to learn something and grow deeper in your faith.
“There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” – 1 Samuel 2:2
Jesus is our guide and He gives us the strength to endure hard things.
He gives us the tools and resources we need to find ways to propel ourselves forward. With His reassurance and His calm peaceful voice, He quiets our doubts and fears and helps us surrender and embrace His overwhelming goodness.
Jesus holds us up and we need Him in order to climb to great heights.
As we made our way to the top of the Barranco wall, we were instantly above the clouds, surrounded by the beauty that comes after a hard climb. Feeling on top of the world brought a sense of connection and deepened my viewpoint on what can transpire when we allow God to direct our steps and take ourselves out of the equation.
You see, these rocks were not just a huge part of one morning. They were around us for the entire journey. And although this mountain adventure lasted 7 days, we will always have rocks in our lives whether literally or figuratively. It is up to us to determine how we are going to step over them.
We will not always be able to keep everything in proper order. The rocks will be disrupted from time to time. But at the end of the day, this allows us to see a transformation that is only able to creep its way through when things are moved. And that comes from courage, growth, and letting go to allow God to move mountains.
We cannot do it alone.
We need our Rock in our lives to keep us going. And that Rock has a special name: His name is Jesus.
“From the end of the earth, I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,” – Psalm 61:2