The Upward Way

This thought just struck me when I was going up the mountain yesterday. How often we ask God to take us higher and when the going gets tough, we grow frail in our faith or we lose hope and start entertaining thoughts of giving up. But little did we realise the UPWARD way is never easy!

But the beauty of which is it takes you to new heights you've never known before, to plateaus where you can catch breathtaking views . What's beautiful about climbing the upward way is upon reaching new grounds, you feel so refreshed and more confident than before. You feel like you have this joyous energy to scamper like a squirrel. Somehow it becomes not so tiring anymore at the top.

I guess that's how the Christian journey is like sometimes. We get tired, drained and struggle or face an uphill battle at some points. If you feel like that, don't be discouraged and don't lose hope, cos' you're very likely on the right track - the UPWARD way! That struggle, that uphill battle might very well be cos' you're about to break forth to new levels, to new grounds, to places you've never been before. It could be fighting a habit or addiction or struggling to get your prayer life more active.

What's reassuring to know is we're not in this alone. Habbakuk 3:19 (also in 2 Sam 22:34 & Psalms 18:33) tells us "The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights" (emphasis mine). Why then doesn't God just lift us up to the mountaintop? I guess there might be instances which He does that. But I would say many a time, we do the walking but He walks with us and enables us. Read again "he makes my feet" suggests you do the walking, He gives the strength. The all familiar Philippians 4;19 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (emphasis mine) confirms that we do the doing.

So if you feel faint-hearted, look to the beautiful eyes of Jesus and gather your strength to take this upward way. Don't give up cos' in due time, you will reach the new heights and supernatural realms of God's glory & power (just like how I had a lovely view of the three glacial lakes from the top). And with each step, you gain even more confidence in God, more refreshed in His presence and find greater delight.

Each step I take I know that He will guide me
To higher ground He ever leads me on
Until some day the last step will be taken
Each step I take just leads me closer home