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Conquering the Mt. Everest in your life

by Stacie Ruth Stoelting | The Good News | December 28th 2009
Tags: Dr. Jesus, Fearless, Max Lucado’s book, Mt. Everest

I hurt my back while rock climbing recently. Hey, I really wish I could say that I hurt it while lifting an injured elderly lady to safety. But, no, I hurt my back while rock climbing.

My exuberance eclipsed common sense: I tried too hard with my own strength levels (and only made it half-way up the advanced climb). It taught me a lesson: In my own strength, I fail and hurt. I may take ibuprofen, but only rest and treatment offer the answer to the pain problem.

That reminds me of life. We feel pain and try painkillers instead of getting treatment to get well.

We try things ranging from sports, socializing (online and offline), shopping, and all sorts of other activities to distract us. But we still hurt and wonder why.

The answer to our pain rests in knowing Dr. Jesus. Jesus offers an answer to the pain question. He promises to make things right in the end and stays with us in the interim. In Max Lucado’s book, Fearless, he puts it well: “He has diagnosed the pain of the world and written the book on its treatment. We can trust him.”

Jesus gives us true love and life. Alcohol will not do it. Overeating will not do it.

Today, let Jesus feed your soul with His love.... And, hey, you can never overeat on that!

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty’” (John 6:35).

Have you encountered flakey fakes in the faith? Good news: Jesus always keeps His Word! He never says something and then forgets it. He knows what you need and is already working behind the scenes to answer your prayers. He helps us on earth and provides Heaven.

Download this empowering fact into your heart:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4–7).

Celebrate His presence today! While giving Him Sundays, let’s also give Him our Mondays…our Tuesdays…etc. In John 15:4, Jesus invites us to: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” Abide in Jesus and He’ll abide in you. Take some time to receive His love and let Him love people through you.

Have you ever thought of applying the Word to the world rather than the world to the Word? Let’s check our Maker’s life manual before making decisions.

Instead of finger-numbing, knee-scraping climbing, let’s bend our knees. Let’s talk and listen during regular prayer time. The great thing is that our reception doesn’t change with our area.

There’s no distance in prayer.

If we didn’t climb life’s mountains with Jesus, we would miss out on a Heavenly view on life.

Problems point us to the problem-solver. The climb makes us value the mountain mover.

Hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ earthly arrival, Isaiah told us about Jesus: “Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.”

Today, let’s climb on Jesus’ back and do some faith-filled rock climbing. With Him, you’ll never fall. The only way to the top is to let Jesus carry us. Wow, the view from the top is more than worth it!

Going through a rough time? Join Stacie Ruth’s prayer group at www.prayingpals.org. Stacie Ruth is an author, actress, and recording artist. Her new CD is called Heavenly. For more information on Stacie Ruth, visit www.brightlightministries.com.
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