Climbing–up and up–one foot in front of another–sometimes crawling on all fours–waiting patiently in perseverance for the climb to be over. Waiting to just finally reach the top of the mountain. There are silver lining moments when I think I see the end– I am stretching out in hopes that I’ve reached the climax of the story and can exhale a giant sigh of relief because the exhaustion would be over and rest would deliver relief for my achy muscles that are tired of climbing. If you’ve been to the gym you’ve seen Jacob’s ladder or the stairmaster  and that’s what this journey feels like, climbing the never-ending stairmaster. Sweat pouring down the sides of your face drenching your shirt you just keep trekking on with weariness breaking down the strength in your mind to just quit.  It’s in those moments of weariness that you pant and thirst for the delight of rest on top the mountain peak that overlooks the path of hardship. But when the climax of the story is still off in the distance He graciously breathes fresh life for those who hold tight to hope. He provides a new layer of strength you didn’t know you had. Your achy legs feel light as a feather again and you feel you have the strength to climb the daunting never-ending stairmaster one more round.

 

He gives power to the faint,

   and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,

   and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who hope for the Lord shall renew their strength;

   they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

   they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31