God’s might is often described by stating that He can move mountains. This indeed, is a beautiful picture of the power our Father has to intervene in our life and to work all things together for good. I faithfully believe that God does move mountains, and that He can do so without even lifting a finger.
But what about the mountains He leaves unmoved?
In 2 Corinthians, Paul describes a thorn in his flesh. He repeatedly asks God to take the thorn from his side. God answers Paul’s prayers not by removing the hardship from his life but by reminding him that even through the difficult times He alone is enough. God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in your weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Christ is sufficient even when our desperate prayers go unanswered. There have been many moments where I have found myself confused as to why God would lead me down a certain path but then allows difficulties and insecurities to arise. Why would He let this happen even when I prayerfully obeyed Him? I’ve found myself frustrated, crying out that "it isn’t fair", and confused as to why the prayers I've prayed over and over again seemingly go unnoticed. In those moments I have to consciously choose to rest in the fact that I know He hears me and I know He has a purpose for what He's doing.
God doesn’t promise us an easy life, and He sure as heck doesn’t owe us one. Sometimes God chooses to leave the mountains unmoved and that is okay. The moments that we feel most desperate for God to rip the thorn out from our side are sometimes the moments that he leaves it there to teach us to rely on Him even more.
Paul gives us a beautiful example to follow when he says, “I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Often we look back on a difficult situation days, months, or even years later and are able to see the way God was moving. It’s in THAT moment that we have clarity on what God was doing and it's THAT moment that we are eager to speak of the way He was faithful. Instead of waiting to be on the other side of whatever we are going through, why don’t we choose to proclaim His faithfulness in the midst of it all. Even when God’s not moving the mountain, not removing the thorn, we need not worry because we KNOW that He is sufficient. He has a plan far greater than we could ever imagine. I will choose in those moments to boast in my weakness and trust in God's perfect plan all the more.
I am thankful for the mountains unmoved because they teach me to rely on my Father.
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