Last week I had the opportunity to do some rock climbing up the cliffs in Dorset. I was working with a group of 45 school leavers on the National Citizens Service programme. It was a great week with loads of adventurous activities and team building. I was pretty excited for rock climbing as I had never done it before on an actual rock! After we had walked all the way down the hill, and managed to find a safe way to the bottom of the cliff, we began to put on our protective gear. A helmet, to make sure we didn't get a head injury if we bashed our heads, and a safety harness, to make sure we didn't fall down the side of the cliff face as we were climbing. It was all very exciting and the kids were super excited. I kept reminding myself that I was the responsible adult here, and that I could not freak out if I became nervous of the activity. I was there to set an example, make sure they were overcoming their fears, and encourage them. Now, was not the time for me to be anxious, even if I was standing before a 40foot cliff face I was about to climb! I had to be brave.
After the instructors had given us an In-depth safety briefing, and explained all the necessary instructions to us, it was time to conquer the wall! A load of questions flooded my mind. How was I actually going to climb the wall? Where would I put my feet? What would my hands grab hold of? What happens if I slip? What if I get stuck? What if my safety harness fails? My mind was full of 'what if's' as I leaned back and stared upwards to the massive cliff face that stood before me.
[my amazing and crazy sister with her safety helmet on. Love working with her!]
I began my climb, and I quickly noticed that it was way easier to climb looking up than it was looking down! If I looked down, I saw the teenagers holding the safety ropes for me! The instructors were there and the kids were following all the instructions, but it made me feel a bit nauseas haha! If I looked up, even though the cliff face seemed huge and daunting, and I wasn't sure how I was going to complete the challenge, it was just easier to climb, to reach up with my hands, and anchor my feet on the side of the rock. Looking up, although still hard, I knew I could do it! Looking down made me want to have a panic attack. I managed to climb the cliff face safely, and it was fun! :-)
[trust me, it was scarier than it looks!!]
After I came down, I continued to encourage the teenagers. I watched them as they worked together as a team. I saw how steady the footing of the ones who were holding the safety rope was. I heard them offering words of encouragement and support, cheering each other on. I saw the look on the kids faces when they got to the top, and the joy they expressed when their feet were back on the ground and they realised how much they had accomplished.
You see, sometimes in life we are faced with mountains. Sometimes the obstacle seems too high, too far, too dangerous, or too daunting to overcome. I've learnt in life [and I'm still learning], that the greatest way to overcome fears, obstacles and mountains, is to stare them right in the face, tackle them head on. We need to realise there is an overcomer, a victor, a history maker, on the inside of us, and keep moving forward, one step at a time. That's how I got up that cliff face last week. I looked up and I kept moving, one step at a time.
[Dancing Ledge, Dorset. The cliffs we climbed!]
When we look up, we not only realise WHO we are, but we also realise WHOSE we are. If you have said yes to God, and committed your life to following Him, then He IS for you and He IS on your side! He is [and I ABSOLUTELY know from personal experience] bigger, stronger, greater and more powerful than ANY challenge you will EVER face! He has overcome sin and death, and He empowers us, you and me, to overcome in our own lives.
Life is crazy and although I'm sure all of us wish we hadn't had to go through certain things. The fact is, when you are faced with a humongous mountain, a treacherous obstacle, when it's like the enemy is staring you down, it's in THAT time, in THAT moment, that God's power and Glory is revealed in your life! I never thought I would say this, but when you have God on your side, when HE IS YOUR ROCK, when you LOOK UP, you CAN absolutely face ANY challenge and GET THROUGH IT! [Please hear my heart, I am by no means minimising what you have experienced, some things are plain evil, unjust, unfair, and not ok. There is an enemy who is out to destroy us. The truth is that in the pain, in the chaos, in the abuse, in the fire, God IS bigger, and if you keep clinging to Him, He will bring you through].
Life happens, bad stuff happens to good people all the time! Is it fair? No! But, life happens, and going through bad seasons is part of the journey of life. The great thing is, that we have God. He promises He is always with us. He is our ROCK. He is our ANCHOR. He is our HOPE. He is our STRENGTH. It's in His power that we overcome and conquer.
My prayer, for my life and yours, is that we would know who our ROCK is. I pray that we would be anchored! Rooted in the One that NEVER fails or leaves us. I pray that the seasons of life would not toss us too and fro, but would make us EVEN STRONGER!
The world is watching. The world needs you to be strong, to be brave, to be secure, to succeed, to conquer, to rise up and shout truth.
How do you handle challenges and obstacles? Do you overcome, or do you let the obstacles overcome you?
Next time you are facing a challenge, an obstacle, a mountain, a wall... Remember, that the ROCK on which you stand [JESUS] is far bigger and stronger than the thing you face. I dare you to stare that fear, that challenge, that mountain right in the face. I dare you to speak to your storm, and shout you will overcome it. I dare you to keep putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward in freedom and victory. I dare you to listen to the voice of TRUTH, the voice of HOPE, the voice of LIFE.
YOU, Yes, I'm talking to YOU! You, are awesome! God loves YOU, and He is for YOU, and He is cheering YOU on, He has already overcome, and He put the spirit of an overcomer on the inside of YOU. If you are facing a hideous mountain today, my heart goes out to you, and, I hope you know you are not alone. I pray that your feet would be so grounded on the ROCK [Jesus], that NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, you would STAND! You would be STRONG. You would be VICTORIOUS! You would be IMMOVABLE, and you would NOT be shaken! I need you to be strong, and so does this world. :-)
Let's stare the enemy in the face this week, let's be people who overcome life's challenges, let's move the mountains, let's walk in victory. I refuse to live any other way, I hope you do too?! :-)
Here's a few verses that I love. I hope they encourage you today :-) xoxo
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. (Psalms 62:6 NKJV)
But the LORD has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge. (Psalms 94:22 NKJV)
Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer. (Psalms 78:35 NLT)
I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD. (Psalms 40:1-3 NLT)
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