Climbing Higher
We have a granddaughter of toddler age and she is such a joy! Watching her discover her environment inside and outside is so fun! Her latest fascination is with rocks. One day she gathered a few rocks in each of her cute little hands and held onto them pretty tightly.
Then, to come inside, she had to crawl and climb up some steps to get back in. However, she ran into difficulty as her hands were not free to lay flat on each step to support her weight so she could move her legs up the next step. I tried to tell her that she needs to lay the rocks down to climb up. Whether her young mind, still learning spoken language understands or not, she didn’t lay down the rocks. So she struggled and became frustrated. It’s a toddler thang. Our guys did the same with holding on to things in their hands when they were toddlers.
Watching the situation made me think of how often we (grown-ups) have the same struggle when it comes to our spiritual walk with God. We want to “climb” higher in our relationship with the Lord but we hold on so tightly to our “rocks”. And we get frustrated and wonder why we can’t get there.
What are some “rocks” which we hold on to so tightly? It could be…
the rock of money. We strive so hard to make and save and we don’t let go of the effort or the money itself. The certain-amount-in-the-bank goal is a moving target. It usually happens that when we reach $Amount, we think, ‘Just a little bit more, and that should do it, like $Amount+123’ But in reality, for many people, once they reach that amount, then it’s $Amount+456; and then it’s $Amount+789. And so on, and so forth… It continues. Contentment, however, is achievable. Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ”
a past hurt. We spend so much time dwelling on the hurt that it can be all-consuming. When it’s all we think about or when we are so busy building a wall around us so we would never be hurt again, we don’t have time for God. Either that or the wall we built, also keeps the Lord out! The mind, the heart, and time have limitations.
life’s activities. Life is busy, especially certain seasons, but it doesn’t have to be “busy, busy, frightfully busy” as the words of a Veggie Tale lyrics go. Even good things for church, for family, or helping other people can lead to busyness when there are too many activities that interfere with a close relationship with Him. Can it be that sometimes we subconsciously stay busy so that we do not get close to people, and in turn, close to God?
These are just a few examples, but there can be so many other rocks we hold on to that, perhaps, we don’t realize we are.
In my many years of being in a relationship with Jesus, when I don’t feel close to him, it’s not because He has left me, but upon introspection, it’s because I have not made time for Him. If we have entered into a relationship with Him, His Word says that He will not forsake or leave us. (Deuteronomy 31:6) In my experience, He is always at work in my life even when I don’t feel it or see it. (See my blogpost titled My Rescue Story with what happened in 2019 and 2021.) As with earthly relationships, we can’t feel close to someone unless we spend time with them physically and/or in heart-to-heart communication with them.
I have girlfriends who live many states away, yet I feel a close bond and relationship with them. Whenever we schedule a catch-up time whether by phone or both of us driving half way to meet, we always pick up where we left off.
In the spiritual realm, when I make the time to talk with the Lord about anything and everything, thanking Him for the blessings in my life, and sharing my concerns, I feel His nearness. When I spend time listening to praise and worship music, reflecting on His perfection, holiness, and other characteristics, and how He has worked in my life, I feel His nearness. When I read His Word and apply what I’ve learned to my life, I feel His nearness. When I reflect on the fact that He is my Creator, knows me best, loves me, takes care of me, and has great plans for my life including the difficult seasons, I feel His nearness. He is as close as the next heartbeat. Am I perfect at doing this everyday? Absolutely not! And I can always feel it when I don’t. It’s usually because I’m holding on tightly to a rock or two, and I can’t climb higher to be with Him.
Can I encourage you today to reflect? See if you might be holding on to any rocks that could cause you to not be able to put your full effort into climbing higher with Jesus. Do you have difficulties in life and victories in Jesus you want to share? I would love to hear from you.