Ask For a Mountain

Last week I finished reading The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg. I know I've referenced this book in several blogs, but it has rocked my world, challenged my perceptions of myself and others, and brought up some tough questions me, for any reader, to answer.

The last chapter was rocking...Ortberg definitely wanted to go out with a bang, with the reader reeling and challenged. He references the book of Joshua, as Joshua and the Israelites are preparing to enter Canaan. Although an old man, Caleb requests to conquer the hill country, the most difficult battle for the conquering Israelites. Hey Caleb! You're 85...you've been faithful your whole life wandering in the desert. Let some of the young Israelites take the tough stuff! You just waltz on in to the Promised Land and enjoy.

I don't know about you, but I had (and still sometimes have) the false perception that since I am a Christian, my life is supposed to be easy. Yes, prayers get answered...but not always in our time frame. Yes, our God can conquer anything...but His people will still face suffering and hardship. Yes, God has blessed me...but so I can go bless others. My devotional, Streams in the Desert, has been emphasizing over the past few weeks that hardship and suffering builds our eternal character, builds our faith, and strengthens our resolve to follow Christ.

So the hill country was Caleb's mountain, his challenge and task God created him for. What does a mountain look like for a modern-day Christ follower? Ortberg gives us a clue:

"Just as in every area of your growth, your mountain will not look exactly like anyone else's. But often you will recognize it because it lies at the intersection of the tasks that tap into your greatest strengths and the needs that tap into your deepest passions. Yet know this for sure: God has a mountain with your name on it."

Over the past week, I've been trying to clear out the clutter and noise in my head, and think and pray ...what is my mountain? What adventure was I created for, that God had planned for me since the creation of the world?

I know I am young, but I feel like I start to get hints, glimpses, of my mountain. Talk about exciting, scary, and faith-building! More than ever, my heart feels burdened for the youth of my church. Youth ministry has gone from "I can't believe it, but I know I am supposed to do this," to "I can't imagine NOT doing this" in my heart. The kids are crazy, but I love spending time with them, worshiping with them, talking with them, and getting random text messages and Facebook posts from them.

The next part is even scarier than being called into youth ministry...my heart has been burdened for missions, especially medical missions. I think about all of the people on the planet who do not have access to physical therapy, and my heart breaks a little. I have been abundantly blessed with the skills and intelligence to become a physical therapist. I know a large part of my ministry is here in the U.S., but more and more strongly I know (like a deep down, intense, quiet way of knowing) that I am going to be called to serve internationally as a therapist, and sooner than later. I felt this voice very strongly at BigStuf with the Advance kids...a whoa kind of moment. I now have an application for World Medical Missions sitting on my desk...they need people to serve in Haiti. I am praying about applying....please pray for me, that God's plan for me in this would become clear and open.

So, what's your mountain? Open yourself with me to the possibility of living your part in God's great adventure and story. And I must add...remember, it's about the journey, the growth, not the summit. Miley Cyrus hit the nail on the head....."it's the climb."