Strength to Climb

The future may look uncertain to you

You cannot see what's coming to view
You're all alone and so insecure

can't trust the unknown it looks so unsure

But do NOT give up, don't run and hide

My presence will ALWAYS be right by your side

I've watched your heart break, I've seen all your pain

It's hurting me too, but there's beauty to gain

Hold tight to my hand, it's reaching for you

When it's dark and it's cold, I'll carry you through

Rest in my strength and trust in my heart

Let me lead the way and you won't fall apart
                                -A.J. Miller

The future looked scary. I saw Mt Everest ahead of me, looming so high I couldn't see the top. I knew I had to climb it... but oh help! There is no way! EVER! And then God said, "you don't have to climb it today, you just have to take a few steps today, can you do that?" "But God," I cried, "Why did you choose me? Why do I have to have these experiences? Why this mountain?" And God said, "Because I knew you could do, and because I want to make something beautiful out of you. It's only through the hard times that you become stronger. I will be walking with you, and when you fall, I will pick you up. Just like mountain climbing, when you climb you can't be looking at the top, you have to be watching where you put your feet. Your focus needs to be in the moment, while your goal is to reach the top. I have already been through your future, and I'm never going to leave you. I will give you enough strength for you to keep going. Take one day at a time, and savor the moments. You only have one chance to live today, so make the most of it. There will be dark times, and painful time. But you can trust me, I will not let you go. Hold tight to My hand and I will lead you all the way to the top." 

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do.

But to hold it together when everyone else in the world 

would understand if you fell apart,

that's true strength. -Lao Tzu

I like how Louie Giglio explains Isaiah 40:27-31... such powerful words. Be blessed! 

"When you are at the toughest place in your life, how do you know that God is going to hold you together and bring you through?...  Here's what Isaiah says, "So why do you say oh Jacob, and why do you complain oh Israel my way is hidden from the Lord or my cause is hidden from my God." What the people of Israel really wanted to know was, does God see what I'm going through? Does He see what I'm carrying? Does He know that I can't take one more step or one more day? Does He care, and can He do something? 

Isaiah answers with another question. "Do you not know, have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and His understanding no one can fathom." He's huge. He is a star breather. He's big. This big God, "He gives strength to the weary. He increases the power to the weak. Even the youths will grow tired and weary and young men will stumble and fall. But those who hope in the Lord. Those who wait in the Lord...." The Hebrew word for hope and wait means those who stand right in the midst of the craziness, right in the midst of the pain, right in the midst of the chaos and standing in the middle of it they say you know what, I don't see what God is doing. I don't understand what the plan is. But I will tell you one thing, I am not going to give up on God. I'm gonna stand right here in the middle of this moment and I'm gonna trust that God is sitting on a thrown and that He has a plan and a purpose for my life and I believe that I'm gonna see the goodness of God in the land of the living. I am not gonna stop believing that, no matter what. That's what it means to hope and wait on the Lord.  

And Isaiah says, here's the promise... You're gonna wake up to rosy circumstances. No. Oh He can do that and He does do that. BUT THE PROMISE IS GREATER THAN THAT!!! Those who wait upon the Lord, here's what I promise. I will renew your strength. And when you think you can't take one more breath, I'll give you enough to keep going on, and to keep going on, and to keep going on, and to keep going, and to keep going... You keep hoping and I'll keep causing strength to rise when you hope. And you will feel like you have been swept up on the wings of eagles and you will run, and not get weary. You will walk through it all and not faint. I will hold unto you, even when you let go of me, I'm not gonna let go of you!

"Lord, that is my response to You. I will hope in You. I will keep taking one day at a time, and rely on Your strength to guide me through life. I will trust You to lead me up any mountain that you see is for my good and the good of those around me. I trust You, and I will walk with You, where ever You lead, for Your glory."

"...In the presence of a Holy God,

 I bow down, and I adore. 

You reveal the secrets of my heart. 

And I'm shaken to the core. 

In the presence of a Holy God, 

there's new meaning now to Grace. 

You took all my sins upon yourself. 

I can only stand amazed. 

And I cry Holy, Holy, Holy God. 

How awesome is Your name.

I cry Holy, Holy, Holy God. 

How majestic is Your name. 

And I am changed, 

in the presence of a Holy God."