Sleeping Beauty

On August 7th, I hiked up a mountain with my good friend Peter McMurray called Sleeping Beauty in the Adirondacks. It was amazing, but very difficult because it was long and steep, and I am very out of shape. Just when we would think that we were getting close to the top another hill would appear. I mustered every ounce of strength I had though and we eventually made it up there. When we were on the cliff and looking down, amazed at how high we were, I couldn’t help but be proud and feel as though we made a great accomplishment. This got me to thinking about my spiritual life. It really is just like climing up a mountain. God just keeps throwing me hill after hill to climb up, it is hard and tiring, but with Him I can do anything. All of us can do anything with Him as long as it is with His will. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phillipians 4:13). He will never give us more that we can take. In 1st Corinthians 10:13 we are told “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” And then again in Isaiah 41:10 we are told “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We just have to keep trudging through because one day we will get over that last hill, and we will be stronger in faith and in ourselves, and we will grow closer to God. The day I reach the top is the day I will join God in heaven and the climb will have been worth it, just like it was when I got to the top of Sleeping Beauty with Peter. The view will be so much better there though than it was from that cliff.