Today is a National Day Calendar celebration of something that is going to be very difficult to accomplish in NW Ohio. This is National Climb A Mountain Day. Julie Andrews encouraged us to do that when she famously sang, “Climb every mountain!” We are quite a distance from The Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Adirondacks, Blue Ridge, the Great Smokey Mountains, the Bighorn Mountains, or any other mountain range in the United States. Guess we can’t celebrate, huh?
That’s what I thought when I first saw the heading for today’s celebration. Upon further investigation, though, I found that the celebration isn’t about climbing actual mountains. It is a metaphor for the problems of life. Many of those “mountains” are avoided because of the fear of failure or past defeats attempting to climb that same hill. Maybe the summit of our mountain seems too high and unobtainable. We are afraid of rejection, humiliation, or the reaction of friends and family when we announce we are going to make the climb.
So, we stay at the base, looking up and fearing to climb. Worse yet, we could feel so defeated that we’ve moved ourselves as far away as possible from the mountain, unwilling to look at it because it’s a constant reminder of defeat.
The National Day Calendar offers five ways to defeat this fear:
- Accept fear and failure as a normal part of your emotions. Use fear and failure as learning tools to correct mistakes and make adjustments as you progress.
- Approach your mountain climbing with positivity. Even though you might struggle on your path up the mountain, each step is a step closer to your goal. Use each step as a stepping stone to become better.
- Be brave and courageous during your journey. Face any fear or failure you might encounter with the mindset of getting through it. Because you will.
- Make adjustments. We do not get a handbook in life. Climbing mountains means we make necessary adjustments and change courses if something isn’t working. Don’t be afraid to change.
- Visualize your success each step of the way. Think about how you will feel once you
reach the top of your mountain. By taking in the scenery along the way, you will appreciate the view from the top.1
You can’t fault any of the advice that’s given. However, it lacks one major component: the spiritual aspect. We need to be reminded about what the Lord has to say about the mountains of life. Consider some valuable verses.
Matthew 21:21-22 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (22) And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Each of these passages needs to be read in the context of the surrounding verses so take some time today and do that. Read the chapter where the verses are located and see the specific mountains that are addressed.
Your mountain may be getting victory over a troubling sin. It might be a marriage that is experiencing some difficulties. Perhaps the mountain has to do with your career or finances. It could be problems with the kids. Whatever the mountain, it’s time to start climbing, believing the Lord is going to get you to the top. It may not be today and there may be some slips and falls as you climb. But cling to the promise of Psalms 37:23-24.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. (24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
1https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-climb-a-mountain-day-july-30
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