Have you ever had the experience when you stood at the base of a huge mountain that you knew you had to climb? These moments can be full of anxiety, fear, or intimidation. But if we are able to muster up enough faith and hope to just start climbing, we will discover the great joy that fills a soul in the process of climbing mountains. These "Mountain" experiences change us, affect our future selves, and can bless the lives of many others for years to come. If you are discouraged and finding it hard to keep climbing, I hope that I might shed some light on the impact you are leaving and why it is worth every step.
Mountains come in all shapes and sizes; some take months to pass through and others a lifetime. Divorce, losing a loved one, physical and mental illness, losing a job, lost opportunities, and many other mountains are worth the climb. What do mountains do for us? I think of mountains in the scriptures. Moses, Nephi, the brother of Jared, and many other Prophets had to first climb a Mountain to speak with God. Mountains have the ability to refine us and build us into more a holy people as we come closer to heaven. This is especially the case if we allow Jesus Christ to climb with us and carry us through the hardest parts.
Think of the mountains you have climbed in life. Was it worth the pain and struggle to reach the top? Consider of the lessons that you have learned in the process of climbing each of your largest mountains. One of the reasons we even have mountains is to help us gain enough courage as we stand at the base of even larger mountains in our future. We know that it is possible to climb a mountain because we have done it before! For me, I sometimes have to look back at the past in order to remind myself what I am capable of. We climb mountains now to prepare us to face the larger ones in the future.
Sometimes we climb mountains not even for ourselves, but for others. Have you ever overcome a really hard experience and been able to comfort others passing through the same one? This is a big reason why God has us pass through this existence with other people, so we can lift each other and strengthen one another in each climb. There is nothing more fulfilling than being is a place to help and serve others with our experiences. My own ancestors have passed through incredible hardship crossing the plains and their experiences have strengthened me so much. Next time you feel downtrodden and depressed on your climb, think of how the Lord might use you to lift others with your experience including future posterity.
I encourage you to not give up! God is there and He will send help when you most need it. Just keep climbing and have faith that the view and feeling of triumph will be worth it! Right in the middle of climbing a mountain one can feel discouraged, but by looking back and seeing the progress you have made you can strengthen your resolve to keep going! In the end, the majestic view and feeling of triumph is absolutely worth the change that occurs within us!
Challenge: Make a list of the largest Mountains you have climbed and what you have learned from each experience.
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