“For the Lord God helps me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.” Isaiah 50:7

Keep Climbing!

On this unexpected journey we’ve been on, there have been so many times when I feel I’ve taken two steps forward and three steps backward. It can be very frustrating and discouraging. It’s felt like I’ve been in this forward/backward motion the last few weeks. I’ve been sick, I get well, and I get sick again. This is my third round of winter bugs.

Over these many months when it feels like I’ve slid backwards at times, I’ve been grateful for the Lord’s help in giving me strength to pick up the pieces, shake the dust off, and begin again. He has given me the grace for that each time.

Someone sent me an amazing video clip (link at the end) of a little bear trying to climb a steep, snowy hill. The mama bear is waiting for him at the top. The little bear slides down the hill over and over, but each time he begins again. I love bears anyway, and as I’ve watched this video a number of times I found that I could so relate to the little bear. At one point he is almost to the top—and then he slides waaaay down the hill and you think he’s gone this time. But he finds a way to maneuver and keep climbing. He is so determined.

Meanwhile the mama bear paces anxiously back and forth waiting for her cub. I’m sure it was hard for the mama bear to not go down the mountain and help the cub… but she knows the cub needs to learn how to climb. It’s the only way the cub will survive in the future.

As I watched this I could just see the Lord watching me as I slide backwards sometimes in my trials. He knows I need to go through them in order to get strong and grow in my faith and trust in Him. He knows I need to learn the lessons. He knows I need to learn how to climb higher. God could easily rescue me in the trials, but in His tender love for me He allows me to walk through them—to slide backwards sometimes—in order to grow and mature. He’s watching anxiously over me all the time, never abandoning me!

I want to be determined like this little bear! I want to keep climbing the mountain, never giving up no matter how many times I slide backwards. I can imagine that little bear keeping its mama in view as he works hard each time to climb to the top. I want to keep my eyes on the Lord as I climb! I want to grow in my trust and love for Him. I want to keep going and get to the top of the mountain. I know the Lord will help me!

Determination is not some magical power or super-spiritual anointing. It is simply deciding in our hearts that with God’s grace and help we’ll keep climbing that snowy mountain—no matter how many times we slide backwards!

“Father, we declare that with Your help, we will keep going, no matter what. Amen.”

To watch the video please click here