I recently celebrated my 30th birthday. I think I'm still coming down from the sugar high of all the festivities, but it was incredible. God truly blessed me with a wonderful weekend with the ones of love the most. As I sit here.. 30.. and SOO much wiser **insert eye roll** I am reminded of God's grace over my life and the ways he's been moving in me, in the most powerful way. I would have never guessed that 2014 would be shaping up the way it has, with so many struggles, obstacles, and downright painful experiences. My goal for the year of running a marathon (or running any race for that matter) have disappeared and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't struggling with feelings of frustration and bitterness over what I've lost. This weekend, I looked out on the sparkling waters of the Potomac river and admired the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the distance.. less than a year ago I was bolting across that bridge with such strength and confidence as I wrapped up my most memorarble half marathon of the year. I felt unstoppable and somehow there I was, standing on the side of the river with an aching back, simply from walking and holding my purse. I felt broken and my heart ached at what I'd lost. It was in that moment that God whispered to my heart. He reminded me that he was still there and that he has a plan for me, that it may not be the plan I had for myself, but his promises assure me they will be so much better. That's what I want to talk to you about today..

I think it's so easy to find ourselves holding on to God's promises like everything is always going to be perfect. The bible talks about if we have enough faith, God will move mountains for us. Matthew 17:20 says, "He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Do I believe that God moves our mountains? ABSOLUTELY.. but, if you are anything like me, you may find yourself wondering why the mountains in your life aren't suddenly disappearing? If we believe enough, shouldn't God be stepping in to take it all away, to restore everything back to factory setting.. or even better?! If we believe enough, shouldn't things be looking a little more rosy for us? This is when God spoke to my heart, straight through my heart aching bitterness. He reminded me that sometimes he wants to help us move those mountains...one small rock at a time. Yes, God can move our mountains but often times he wants us to have enough faith in him, to lean on him as he helps us move the mountain bit by bit.

God is a good God and he loves us (1 John 4:19), but just like any loving parent he wants us to learn and grow. As a parent we can't do everything for our children, we have to step back and let them do the work. Yes we are there every step of the way, guiding, instructing and giving support. We help them grow by allowing them to struggle a little along the way, but in the process they get wiser, stronger and more capable so when the day comes they can leave home and be successful on their own. Our God is no different. If he removed every mountain for us, it would hurt us in the long run. As a loving father, he may step back and let us work through the "mountains" in our life. Always there, givings us strength and providing us with everything we need to learn and overcome. When we are faced with these mountains, we learn to lean on him more, to have more faith and essentially grow closer to him. THAT is why he allows these things to happen to begin with. In our times of adversity, we grow closer to him.. we learn to depend on him more than anything else. It is in our toughest times that we grow the most. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." I may not know why I'm having to overcome this mountain of mine, piece by piece. It would be so much easier if he just dealt with this mountain in one big chunk. I know more days are coming that I will struggle but I know that I can rest assure that I won't take a single step alone. Every day God is with me, guiding my way and directing my path and he's doing the same for you. When we trust in God with everything we have, he will guide our ways. He will give us the strength we need to move every mountain in our life, even if it's one tiny rock at a time. He is there and we are never alone.