I read a book about the Lewis & Clark expedition and how discouraging it was for them when they finally got to the Rocky Mountains. They made the very difficult climb up to the top of the first mountain peak, sustained by the expectation of reaching the summit and seeing the beautiful blue waters of the Pacific Ocean beckoning below. But this is not what they saw. They saw yet another huge mountain ridge off in the far distance. What a letdown. Another harrowing and backbreaking climb lay ahead of them. To top it off this happened over …and over …and over again! They began to despair that they would never make it. Do you ever feel that your life is like the Lewis & Clark expedition? That it consists of one backbreaking mountain climb after another? You slog your way to the top thinking that once you get there everything will be great and you will have finally reached your goal, only to see yet another mountain.
If you do, I want you to take a look at the picture at the beginning of this article once again. What do you think that guys sees? Do you think he is standing there saying: “This is terrible!” or do you think he is standing there saying “This is beautiful!” – what does he see? It’s really up to him in how he wants to see what lays before him. And so it is with you!
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
Over and over the scriptures advise us to take a positive view of the challenges that we may face in this life. To see the potential of the “…trials of various kinds…” to bring great blessings that can result in wonderful spiritual growth; making us into happier people, stronger people, better people. So much of this depends on what each of us decides to “see” when we stand on the mountaintop!
p.s. – Lewis and Clark made it to the Pacific Ocean. They reached their goal. And they made it back home again too.