You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what He has promised. (Hebrews 10:36)

Ponder It.

What’s something big you’ve had to deal with in life?

What’s something little, or a combination of little things, you’ve struggled to work through?

How have you experienced benefits and growth from some of the struggles you’ve had?

Receive It.

If you stand at the bottom of a huge wall of rock and consider how you’ll ever make it to the top, the prospect is daunting. Rock seems immovable. It’s dangerous, sharp, heavy, slippery. It often looks smooth as if it has no crevices, places to grab onto. But if you stand closely and look just in front of you and slightly upward, you’ll begin to notice details of the rock—opportunities to grab hold, rest, and even feel a bit secure. The mountainous rock looks impossible; each step, when examined more closely, offers possibilities. The big and the little are the same, but the perspective is different. You will only move up the mountain as you’re willing to deal with both the big and the little stuff, seeing them working together as you maneuver, survive, and continue.

Even the equipment used in mountain climbing combines the big and the small. You’ll need to attach to long lines, securing yourself to a safety line that connects the top of the rock to the bottom. It runs the length of your journey. Yet without the clips and carabiners to hold you onto the rope, you can’t keep moving or feel the safety of staying where you are if you start to fall. Your harness might seem like a big piece of equipment in terms of your safety, but if it’s not attached to anything, it’s useless. The soles of your shoes, whether you have rubber grips or steel spikes, are small pieces of equipment, but they do a big job, helping you grip the mountain.

The big stuff and the little stuff works together on your faith journey. It’s not just about your initial decision to follow Jesus; it’s about your many little decisions to follow Him every step of the way even when you’d rather do things your own way. It’s choosing His way over your comfort and convenience. It’s trusting the way He says you need to feel secure instead of letting the fear you’re so accustomed to become your excuse and reassurance. It’s using all the equipment He’s given you—prayer, God’s Word, relationships, worship, service and sacrifice, and so on—together, not in isolation. It’s respecting the reality that your life journey might feel like a huge, overwhelming mountain but God made the mountain. He knows every tiny pebble, speck of dirt, wind direction and speed, crevice, piece of equipment…and you. And He wants you to embrace the adventure with His strength and courage and enjoy the beauty He has planned for you to see.

Live It.

Pick up a rock and carry it with you today. It’s just one piece of the mountain.

Today’s post is part of a 30-day devotional of Adventures in Faith. A new post will be available each morning to launch your day with reflection questions, God’s Word, and a personal challenge. Invite your friends!