"Life's a Climb, but the View is Great"

The close of a chapter. The turn of a page. A new adventure. A new beginning.

I can almost see it, that dream I'm dreaming; but there's a voice inside my head saying "You'll never reach it."

Fresh resolve. Renewed hope. Aspiring ambitions. Take my hand. I'll lead the way.

Every step I'm taking, every move I make feels lost with no direction; my faith is shaking.

I promise you peace and joy that will never fade. Don't look back. Keep your eyes on Me.

There's always gonna be another mountain. I'm always gonna want to make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle, sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. Ain't about how fast I get there. Ain't about what's waiting on the other side. It's the Climb.

You are beginning to see it. Embrace this climb I have you on. That's what life is about.

The struggles I'm facing, the chances I'm taking, sometimes might knock me down, but no, I'm not breaking. I may not notice, but these are the moments that I'm gonna remember most, yeah, just gotta keep going.

I will never give you more than I know that you can handle. Have I ever left your side? No, not once! Not ever! Yes, these are the moments that you will remember most. These are the moments that I am shaping you into the woman that I want you to be. I see the girl that you aren't brave enough to see yet; the girl who is already beautiful, who already has an incredible purpose right now, today.

And I, I gotta be strong; just keep pushing on. Keep on moving, keep climbing, keep the Faith, baby. It's all about, it's all about the climb. Keep the Faith, keep your Faith.

That strength I promised you? He's already with you. Faith has not left your side. You are strong in Him. My Son takes you by the hand and leads you through each mountain and each chapter; but, He can only take you by the hand if you let Him lead the way.



Life is filled with mountains that we climb: high school graduation, college, dating, buying a car, losing a loved one, marriage, and the list could go on! These milestones are in our lives for a reason. Yes, some are painful while others are not; but, the point is that each and every hill that we face shapes us into who we are.

For myself personally, I know that I would not be the same person if it were not for some of the mountains that I had to climb. During those climbs I definitely wondered why in the world I was even headed up that mountain, but once I reached the top, I saw exactly why God had chosen that journey for me.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed" (The Message). Another version puts it this way: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart'"(NIV). God has a specific plan and purpose for my life. I can choose to either believe those words in Jeremiah, or I can do my own thing. I think that I will be more satisfied and confident, however, if I choose to reach out and take my Master's hand. I see it front of me, waiting for me to grab on. That's when adventure starts. "Adventure starts here, in the ordinary" (Natalie Lloyd).

If a heart breaking made a sound, I wonder what it would be: a blanket falling on grass, water freezing, a door closing, or a silent scream. This night feels like it will last forever. But I'm holding out for the promise of sunrise. It will reach its arms in defiance across the dark night . . . quiet, pink, and bright. It will sound like a new beginning. It will color every corner of the night with new beginnings. Light will reach into every dark corner soon. And then I know life prevails. And love lasts forever. So through these tears I watch the stars come out, one by one. I hold my heart out to the only One who can make it whole. And I wait for sunrise. ~Natalie Lloyd in her book, Paperdoll.