Have you ever had a “mountain top experience”? I had one when I went through a weekend retreat some years ago. Maybe you’ve had them at a youth camp, when you were baptized, or just a time when God moved in you in a mighty way. God gives us amazing gifts and teaches us lessons from the mountain top experiences. We can cherish and remember those experiences, but unfortunately, we can’t live on those mountains. (Wah!)

Jesus on the Mountain

Mountains can be pinnacles where we feel incredibly close to God. At other times they are giant obstacles. That’s the part I’d like to dive into. I thought that looking at Jesus’ own experiences on mountains might give us a new perspective. What lessons from the mountain can we learn?

Sermon On the Mount

Mountains can be a place of learning and teaching from God.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was delivered from a mountain. What I found important is that he went there to teach. Was it possible the acoustics were better up there? A good teacher needs his students to hear his Words. Jesus’ teachings were on Godly living, similar to when God dispensed the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai.

When God places us on a mountain to teach us, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Maybe we can hear Him better there?

Could it be a hard teaching? Possibly.

Necessary? If He says so. They may also lead us to something great, a bigger goal we might never have seen or dreamt for ourselves. It might also give us the clarity we needed in our situation.

The Transfiguration of Jesus

Mountains can be a place where we see the glory of Jesus.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain for his Transfiguration. His face shone as bright as the sun and his clothes became a dazzling white. It was not a bright light shining on him, it came from His glory within. They heard the voice of God say “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mt 17:5)

Jesus used a vision of his heavenly glory to strengthen the disciple’s faith for the hard times to come.

Sometimes we too receive a clearer picture of God’s glory and strength for hard times when we are on our mountain. A scripture verse may suddenly open your eyes or heart to a new revelation, His peace that defies human understanding may come over you, or He may send someone unexpected to take your hand and walk your mountain with you.

Satan Tempts Jesus

Mountains can be a place of temptation and testing.

Satan took Jesus to a high mountain to tempt him. He wanted Jesus to give up on his plan to save the world from sin and take the political power of an earthly king instead.

When we are tempted to just give up or give in, our mountains can teach us to overcome. Sometimes we’ve prayed as hard and as long as we possibly can, and our mountain is still stubbornly there. Were my faith and prayer too weak?

Satan wants you to think so.

Satan likes to use temptation to raise doubts in your mind about God’s word and intentions for you. He started with Eve and he continues going strong. Satan loves to test you to see if it’s time to take matters into your own hands.

Use God’s Word to stand firm.

The Mount of Olives

Mountains can be a place to ground us in prayer.

Jesus walked up onto the Mount of Olives to pray on the night he was arrested. His human nature was struggling with the mountain before him. Jesus was “sorrowful”, “troubled”, and “overwhelmed”. Has your mountain caused any of these same emotions for you? His suffering to come left him face down on the ground, praying.

Does your mountain cause you to have earnest, uninterrupted, one-on-one time with Jesus? Sometimes, all we can do is fall before Him and pray “your will be done.”

Jesus Heals the Sick

Mountains can be a place of healing.

Matthew 15:29-31 tells of a time that Jesus was on a mountainside along the Sea of Galilee and healed great crowds of people. “Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others.”

Jesus heals.

He healed us spiritually by atoning for our sin. If our mountain is physical or emotional, he might heal through a resolution to the problem or a cure. If it’s best for us, he might heal by building up the knowledge in us that no matter our circumstances, we can trust him. Sometimes he heals by taking us up to be with him in heaven where ultimate healing occurs.

Spiritual Mountain Climbing

Our mountain might be a financial issue, fear, anxiety, grief, family issues, job stress- the list goes on and on. We need strength to climb our mountains. I’m not talking about physical or mental strength and toughness, but the strength God promises. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.” Zechariah 4:6.

What if we feel God has left us alone on our mountain? Claim his promise that “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). It may be dark and lonely there, but He tells us we can trust him to be by our side.

I want to encourage you to give God your mountain. Claim his promises. Climb in the faith that he takes every step with you, knows what is best, and will see you through to the other side.

If you can do that in faith and trust, your mountain can be a place of learning, renewed prayer and strength, healing, and hopefully even a glimpse of His glory!!

Blessings,

AnnMarie

Photo Credit: AnnMarie Anderson