Facing Your Mountain: Embracing God's Promises in the Midst of Adversity

Life is filled with mountains - challenges that loom large, threatening to overshadow our faith and obscure our view of God's promises. But what if these very mountains are opportunities for us to witness God's power and faithfulness in action?

The story of Caleb in Joshua 14 offers a powerful example of unwavering faith in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. After 45 years of waiting, Caleb approached Joshua with a bold request: "Give me this mountain." This wasn't just any mountain - it was inhabited by the fearsome Anakites, known for their great size and fortified cities. Yet Caleb, at 85 years old, declared himself as strong and ready for battle as he was at 40.

What gave Caleb such confidence? It wasn't his own strength or abilities, but his absolute trust in God's promise. He remembered the words spoken over him years ago, that the land he had explored would be his inheritance. Despite the long wait and the challenges ahead, Caleb's faith remained unshaken.

This account challenges us to examine our own lives. What mountains are we facing? What promises of God have we allowed to be overshadowed by doubt, fear, or the passage of time? Like Caleb, we are called to face our mountains with courage, not because of our own strength, but because of our faith in a God who keeps His promises.

The Bible reminds us in Matthew 21:21 that if we have faith and do not doubt, we can say to a mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and it will be done. This isn't about literal mountains, of course, but about the obstacles and challenges in our lives that seem immovable. Our faith has the power to overcome these barriers, but only if we're willing to speak to them rather than letting them speak to us.

Too often, we allow our circumstances to dictate our faith, rather than letting our faith shape our perspective on our circumstances. We forget to factor God into the equation of our challenges. But as James 4:7 reminds us, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Our ability to resist adversity is directly tied to our submission to God.

This submission isn't a one-time event, but a daily choice. It's waking up each morning and declaring, "Today is not about me; it's about You, God." It's choosing to serve the God of the mountains, rather than being enslaved to the mountains themselves. As we cultivate this habit of submission, we build the spiritual strength needed to face our challenges head-on.

The prophet Zechariah's words ring true: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6). Our victories don't come through our own strength or cleverness, but through the power of God's Spirit working in and through us.

Sometimes, facing our mountain means being willing to lay down our most cherished dreams and promises at God's feet. The story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah illustrates this profound truth. After years of waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise of a son, Abraham was asked to sacrifice that very promise. In that moment of ultimate surrender, Abraham discovered a deeper truth about God's character - that He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides.

This account reminds us that sometimes our greatest breakthroughs come when we're willing to hold our promises with open hands, trusting that God's plans are greater than our own. It's in these moments of surrender that we often experience God in new and profound ways.

As we face our own mountains, whatever they may be - health challenges, financial struggles, relational conflicts, or spiritual doubts - we're invited to approach them with the boldness of Caleb, the faith of Abraham, and the assurance that our God is greater than any obstacle we face.

Here are some practical steps we can take to face our mountains with faith:

1. Identify your mountain: What challenge or obstacle seems insurmountable in your life right now?

2. Remember God's promises: Spend time in God's Word, reminding yourself of His faithfulness and the promises He's made to His children.

3. Speak to your mountain: Instead of letting your circumstances intimidate you, speak words of faith over your situation.

4. Submit daily to God: Make a conscious choice each day to put God first and align your will with His.

5. Take action in faith: Like Caleb, be ready to "take the hill country" when God gives you the green light.

6. Be willing to surrender: Hold your dreams and desires with open hands, trusting that God's plans are ultimate

ly for your good.

7. Persevere: Remember that some mountains take time to overcome. Stay faithful in the waiting, knowing that God is working even when you can't see it.

As we embrace these truths and practices, we'll find ourselves growing stronger in faith, more resilient in the face of adversity, and more attuned to God's presence and power in our lives. Our mountains don't disappear overnight, but our perspective shifts. We begin to see them not as insurmountable obstacles, but as opportunities for God to display His glory and for our faith to grow.

In the end, facing our mountains isn't about summoning our own courage or strength. It's about trusting in a God who is bigger than any challenge we face, who keeps His promises, and who invites us to partner with Him in overcoming the obstacles in our path. As we do, we'll find that the journey up the mountain, challenging as it may be, leads us to new heights of faith and intimacy with God.

So today, whatever mountain looms before you, take heart. Stand tall in faith, speak words of truth and promise, and watch as God moves in ways you never thought possible. Your mountain is an invitation to witness God's power and faithfulness in action. Will you accept the challenge?

Here are the scripture references mentioned or alluded to in the sermon, along with some relevant verses for the main themes discussed:

Explicitly Mentioned:
1. Joshua 14:6-12
2. Matthew 6:34
3. Romans 8:26-28
4. Psalms 27:1
5. James 4:7
6. Zechariah 4:6
7. Genesis 22 (general reference to Abraham and Isaac story)
8. Psalms 50:15
9. Isaiah 58:6 (alluded to with "every yoke will be broken")
10. Isaiah 61:1-2

Alluded to or Relevant to Themes:
1. Matthew 21:21-22 (speaking to mountains)
2. Mark 11:23-24 (speaking to mountains)
3. Hebrews 11:1 (faith definition)
4. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (walking by faith, not sight)
5. Philippians 4:13 (strength through Christ)
6. Romans 4:20-21 (Abraham's faith)
7. Galatians 6:9 (not growing weary in doing good)
8. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (resisting the devil)
9. Ephesians 6:10-18 (putting on the armor of God)
10. Deuteronomy 31:6 (being strong and courageous)
11. Joshua 1:9 (being strong and courageous)
12. Proverbs 3:5-6 (trusting in the Lord)
13. Isaiah 40:31 (waiting on the Lord)
14. 2 Timothy 1:7 (spirit of power, love, and self-discipline)
15. 1 John 5:4 (overcoming the world through faith)

These verses align with the sermon's main themes of facing challenges with faith, trusting in God's promises, and overcoming spiritual obstacles.