You’ve Been on This Mountain Long Enough
A few months ago, I was kind of moping– it was “one of THOSE days.” I was struggling with the transition of moving. Moving is great when you don’t like where you are. But when you love your corner of the world, it is a hard thing.
There were many things that I loved about living in Okinawa, but it was more than that. As a family, everyone was in a good place emotional, physically, and spiritually. When you have several children, it is a rare season when everyone is having a blossoming year. That is the year when the fruit of past struggles pops its head above the surface and begins to bloom. Joy.
In my heart, I knew that moving would involve not only a huge location transition, but more importantly, a major transition for my teenagers. Sometimes transition goes well and sometimes it is like falling into a briar patch and picking out the thorns one by one—slow and painful. You never know until you are in the process how it is going to go.
Well that morning I was praying…actually, it was more like whining. You know, sometimes God has such a sense of humor with me, and yet at the same time gives wisdom. This morning was one of those moments. I opened my Bible and turned to the passage that I would normally be reading that day, Deuteronomy 1. This is the first thing I laid my eyeballs on:
Deut. 1:6 “The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.
Wow. Talk about speaking directly. That one got me right between the eyes. Oh, but wait! There is more… We’ll skip ahead to verse 19.
19 “Then we set out from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, just as the LORD our God had commanded us;… 21 See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you; go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
The location may be different, but the concept is the same. Time for something new. Maybe you too have been “someplace” long enough. Maybe your someplace new is not a new home, but a new experience or a new season of life. Take comfort in the realization that God has ordained your new direction with purpose. It is no accident. I find it encouraging that God not only told them where to go, but he also had a purpose and a blessing for them. Their assignment was to possess the new place.
See it Then Believe it or Believe it Then See it?
As I read this, I see that this was not a cruise vacation. There were challenges and wilderness along the way… Have you ever noticed that the transition to new things often is not a smooth journey?
Now I can really relate to this next part of the story. Catch what the Israelites say to Joshua:
“Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter.’
If I had been there, I would have been tempted to side with these guys—let’s check it out first—see what we are up against.
This falls in line with trying to figure it out by what we can see rather than moving forward in faith.
This is see it then believe it mentality…rather than a believe it then see it way of looking at life.
God showed me that having the wrong mindset set these guys up for intimidation, which caused them to make decisions based on fear and dismay.
I too have left the place where God has said, I have been there long enough. I too have seen some wilderness on the way, had some things to let go of and work through. I too have a choice to enter in and possess what God has for me and my family in this place. I too can go without fear or dismay–or not.
When I look at moving this way, I want to enter in and possess my new land. To possess means to occupy–like when you own a house and live in it. To enter in and possess your new place means that you fight through the challenges that come with transition and change and you invest fully in the new direction that God sends you.
Join me next time for a few more thoughts and lessons from this passage.
So glad you're here. I help busy women—gals like you— build healthy habits for living well with biblical wisdom and practical steps to deepen your faith, increase your hope, and thrive in your purpose.
I may be crazy with a 2 yr old running around distracting me, but I can’t seem to find on the site a link to post to my facebook. I would love to help you out with the book publishing. It needs to be printed and shared:) Just tell me what button to push, love you Ginger, thanks for your encouragement.
This is great!
Great stuff as usual, Ginger!!! I, too, feel like God spoke recently and told me that I had been in “that place” long enough. I described it as a funk or feeling like I was under a cloud. The cloud has been lifted and I am embracing our new duty station and this season of my life now. It’s interesting because I, too, loved Okinawa and did not want to leave. However, I was caught off guard by the fact that I requested Hawaii; we got stationed in Hawaii, which I was excited about and yet I still had a hard time transitioning. I know there were a few BIG challenges along the way that allow me a little grace in this arena but I am so grateful to now have clarity and the opportunity to embrace this season in our lives!! So excited that we get to take this journey together!
“This is see it then believe it mentality…rather than a believe it then see it way of looking at life.” Yikes, in so many areas I can believe then see it BUT THEN…there are those areas where if I don’t see it I won’t believe it. Hmmm another area to grow in. Thankfully, He continues to grow me when I am willing.
Thanks for your inspiring words, Ginger!
Hey Ginger: I read this whole post again as if I had not read it before! Wow – a lot has happened since I made my comment and yet God has not changed and nor has His direction for me changed. I just may have to take a different route to get there now!!! Thanks for sharing your heart sweet friend – God continues to use you to bless me even though we are a MILLION miles away from each other now!!!
Outstanding! This is so very well written. I am in a holding stage and being told it will take longer, and God told me the same thing, “You have been around this mountain long enough”.
Thank you for allowing God to use you as you wrote this post. I am also glad that you pointed out that the people wanted to check it out. I looked at Numbers 13:1 because I always read that God sent the spies. Having read a commentary and also knowing from my biblical studies, God’s words do not contradict themselves. Now, I know that Moses in Deuteronomy is explaining why the spies went out, the people wanted to send spies and God assured Moses in Numbers 13:1, that it was okay. Thank you again. Keep writing!
Connie, I’m so glad you found this post to be helpful and encouraging. We’ve all experienced times of feeling stuck. I’m grateful that God leads us forward, helping us to try new things. Blessings to you!