Journey to the top.

You’re standing at the foot of the mountain.

Staring straight up at what seems never ending.

It didn’t look so tall from afar, but now that you are right up next to it, you begin to grasp the vertical mileage.

Thinking of climbing that mountain is exciting, but there is a small part of you that is already feeling defeated.

What kind of difficulties am I going to come across?

How long until I will reach the top?

Will I ever reach it?

What if I am not the climber I think I am? What if I end up hurting myself?

I can’t go to the top if I am wounded.

Maybe I shouldn’t even try.

God … if you love me… just place me on top.

How many of you have been in this place? How many have stared up at the mountains in your lives and just wished you could blink and be at the top? I know I have. Sometimes life gets overwhelming. Sometimes it seems like there isn’t enough time in the world for all of the things I want to do before I die. I have often wished that God would just lean over the mountain, swoop me up in His big God hands and place me on the top. But I think I know why he hasn’t.

Have you ever been to a party where everyone knows each other but you? It’s like showing up on the last day of camp. Everyone has experienced something together; everyone has this sense of comradery. Everyone has something to celebrate, except you.

Imagine being on top of that mountain with all of the people who just finished climbing. You’re standing there perfectly clean and dry while sweat is rolling down their cheeks. They are breathing heavy; their bodies are all scraped up and bruised. Each of those bruises is a story they get to tell. Each of those scrapes is a story you missed out on. Everyone is talking about their journey up the mountain. They are laughing together and crying together. And all you can do is stand there and listen because you don’t understand.

The view looks completely different to them. They don’t just see a valley below; they see the depths from which they climbed. They don’t just see hillsides; they see the moments they thought they would never make it. They aren’t just on a mountain top; they are standing on a place of victory. They’ve learned something about themselves. They’ve seen what they are made of. And as excited as you are to be on the mountain top… your heart aches because you know you will never be able to appreciate it the way that they can. Why? Because you don’t understand its value.

Sometimes you have to start at the bottom in order to appreciate the top.

There are things to be learned along the way. And no part of the journey can be left out.

You say you want something so bad, how dedicated are you? You want to be high and lifted up, but are you first capable of being humble?

f you can see your destiny waiting for you at the top of the mountain, then I suggest you start climbing. The Lord knows what you want; He wants to see if you are willing. He wants to see your faithfulness.

He is with you every step of the way. And He is waiting for you now. Stop getting distracted by your thoughts. Stop letting the enemy fill your mind with all of the possible ways you could fail. Focus on what God can and will do with you. The sooner you set out on your climb, the sooner you will reach the top.