“It’s not the destination so much as the journey.”—Captain Jack Sparrow
The story goes that some workers were sent to a remote area where they were told to construct a road. Now, this was not an easy task. You see, this location just happened to be at the base of a high mountain, in a spot where no one has been able to pass before. This job was important for the people on either side of this location. The workers had their doubts, but they knew they had to try.
The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3 NASB).
The workers arrived at the location and assessed the task at hand. They realized going over the mountain would be completely out of the question, and of course, they couldn’t go around it either. So, the only choice they had was to go through it.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control (2 Tim 1:7 AMP).
With determination, these men set up their equipment and began their long and treacherous task. As they tunneled their way through the mountain, they noticed that their equipment wasn’t working very well in the hard earth. Hours became days, and days became weeks. . . .
One day, while the workers were deep inside the mountain, a young worker approached the others and suggested they stop. They weren’t making any headway. It was a hopeless project.
I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved (Psalm 16:8 NASB).
The oldest of the workers, seeing that the others looked as if they may agree, stepped forward and suggested that they give it one more week. They all agreed and resumed their work. This man was not willing to give up yet; so he went off alone and got down on his knees and prayed to God.
By the end of the week, all of the workers were tired and discouraged, including the oldest worker. The young worker who had previously wanted to quit walked to the farthest edge of the tunnel they were working on and saw something wonderful. A small speck of light was shining from where they had left off working earlier.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105 ESV).
The young worker ran from the tunnel and told the others what he saw. They all came running, and when they saw that light at the end of the tunnel, their strength was renewed and they finished the rest of the job with joy.
In life, we all have our own mountain to tackle, or perhaps it’s a huge wave coming our way. We know that we can’t go over it; we know that we can’t go around it. We must go through it. But we also know that all we have to do is cry out to the Lord, and He will show us that there is light on the other side.
Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail) (Psalm 55:22 ESV).
Debbie Mitchell