Isn’t it funny how when God finally answers your prayers, you think to yourself, “Yeah, I kept my cool the whole time. I knew it was going to work it all out.” When really inside you were freaking out, worrying, and stressing out. I think I do a good job of that. I think while I am in the desert searching for the next step, and it becomes really hard to trust in God’s plan while wandering in the middle of nowhere trying to find somewhere. Then finally while in the desert, you find a way to climb up a mountain, and gain perspective on your climb to see the view from where you were in the valley. I think once you’re at the top it’s easier to look back and say I knew what I was doing and where I was going the whole time.

I’m finally standing on top of my mountain taking in the beautiful views, breathing a sigh of relief, feeling the warm sun on my skin, and appreciating the path that is behind me. Of course it’s always easy once you are on top. It’s the dry moments of the desert, the steepness of the climb that creates muscles, and the endurance built along the way that matters. The moments where you feel weak, pressed, and stressed are the times when God is strengthening your trust and character. As painful they may feel, they are needed to build your faith.

I find myself trusting in God when things are easy or going my way, but the moments when God is quiet or working behind the scenes, I find myself being challenged the most. I know God is my building patience and trust in Him. I learn to let go and allow God to lead instead of me trying to take the reigns and make things happen for myself. I’m in a good place right now and feel confident in the direction that I’m going as God has been leading me. However, I need to remind myself of the desert and how if it wasn’t for the desert, I would know the mountain top. If it’s not for the bad, I wouldn’t know the good. If it isn’t for the moments of weakness, I wouldn’t have learned how to trust.

The desert is where character is built, spiritual muscles are strengthened, and trust is learned. So when you are standing on that mountain top recognize that the climb was what mattered more, not necessarily the prayer answered.

Are you in the desert, on the climb, or at the mountain top? How is God using this journey to strengthen your faith?