“‘Though the mountains move and the hills shake, my love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken,’ says your compassionate Lord.”

Isaiah 54:10

Traveling by plane is a captivating experience. As you ascend, monuments such as skyscrapers and mountains continue to grow smaller until they don’t seem to be structures of any significance. My most recent flight was to Colorado. Just as a kid runs their fingers over museum models, I continued to visualize gliding my hand down below as we flew over the Rockies. The highs and lows of this grandiose mountain range almost mimic brail from 30,000 ft.

Gazing through my stunted window, it registered that this is what trials of my life may look like from God’s perspective. When at ground level with a mammoth of a problem or enduring a strenuous season with rigid turns, God is not only near, He is consistently providing. By His grace, my “mountain” is only a molehill. This does not belittle our trials and heartache, rather it is a constant comfort that He has gone before us and we can lean on His strength and goodness.

In mountain climbing, belaying is a technique where a climber is secured by a rope, anchored to a partner or sturdy ledge. Have people climbed mountains without belays? Obviously; this is called solo climbing and is very difficult and often excruciating on one’s body. How much more comforting must it be to know that someone is there to catch me if I fall?

Are there mountains you’re trying to climb solo? Is God is yearning for you to trust Him? Maybe He’s placed a Church member in your life to support you, but pride continues to deceive you, saying, “I’ve got this. I’m okay.” If so, I encourage you today to take a step back and ask God to anchor you.

Lord, thank You for being our anchor in difficult times and catching us when we fall. Forgive us for the times we tried to climb solo or belittled Your grandness. We praise You for every mountaintop victory in our lives, as well as every valley and strenuous climb. Thank You, especially, for when You sought me through __________________________.  Amen.

Taylor Newton