If you’re in the midlife and beyond years, let me congratulate you for making it this far on the journey. The wealth of experience and wisdom you’ve learned along the way is of great value. Don’t underestimate it! But have you noticed how many difficulties are also confronting you?
The concentration of hard realities is one of the most surprising aspects of this season. Rather than down shifting to easier years, it’s as if life has revved up to send us more problems!
Any of these sound familiar?
- Deep regrets
- Crisis of faith
- Marriage problems
- Financial difficulties
- Health issues
- Unemployment pressures
- Aging parent demands
- Adult children struggles
These problems can rise like mountains blocking our way. Instead of Mount Everest or Mount Kilimanjaro, the mountains have names like Mount Regret, Mount Marriage, Mount Finance or Mount Health. Each present looming problems that are difficult to manage. Together, they can seem like an entire mountain range in front of us!
If we’re not careful, we can make poor decisions trying to cope with them:
- Drifting from God
- Leaving a marriage
- Distancing from family and friends
- Numbing the pain through pornography, alcohol, or drugs
- Pursuing unhealthy relationships leading to affairs, questionable friends
- Making risky decisions pursuing get-rich-quick schemes, unwise investments
In the Colorado Rocky Mountains there are 54 peaks that ascend above 14,000 feet. They are called the “14ers.” From a distance these mountains look unclimbable yet every summit can be reached without the aid of ropes and pitons. There is a way to conquer them.
Jesus made a remarkable statement to His disciples on the topic of mountains. He said, “…if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you” (Matthew 17:20). He recognized that we would be confronted with mountains that needed moving in our life.
There is some mystery to how all of this works. However, what is most encouraging is that Jesus said our mountains can be moved! Size doesn’t matter. The highest peak can be toppled by something as tiny as a mustard seed.
What mountains are you facing?
As you look over that list, the Creator of the heavens and the earth is walking with you each step of the way. If the mountain hasn’t moved according to your timing, then know He is still orchestrating millions of details which will all work together to accomplish His purposes in your life. It just isn’t obvious yet!
The prophet Isaiah spoke about mountains and what God can do about them when he said, “Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain and the rugged terrain a broad valley” (Isaiah 40:4).
I would be interested in knowing how you’ve seen God move some of these mountains. Or if it hasn’t happened, how are you holding onto your faith and staying hopeful for the future?
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