Overcoming Obstacles

So, for those who read yesterday’s post (Was Does It Take To Get To The Top), you may think I was hiking Mt. Rogers, the highest point in the Commonwealth of Virginia. But life often throws us obstacles. And in this case, the obstacle was a storm front that came in early … and according to all predictions, the mountain side was going to be deluged and it was under a lightning storm/flash flood watch … with dangers of trails being overwhelmed with sudden washout.

I had no desire to be on a mountain during a lightning storm – been there, done that … on Old Rag Trail of all places.

So, for safety, I headed this obstacle and headed further north. I did Humpback Mountain via the Appomattox Trail side. This was half the distance, but it was dry … and a perfect Summer day. The temperature was down in the low 70s (from the 90s in recent days), partial clouds, and dry.

But that doesn’t mean they were no obstacles … loose rocks, and lots of them, on the trail thus making you step cautiously, fallen trees, and more. And on this trail, I remember how you discover a trail hasn’t been trekked recently, the abundance of spider webs crossing the trail. phew. spit. gag. in the mouth and in the hair.

What to do?

I could have been overwhelmed, one too many spider webs. I could have sat and just pouted saying it’s too much effort. I could have been distracted and strayed off trail, risking getting lost, injured, and falling short of the goal.

What to do?

Israel was faced with an obstacle. A giant of a warrior that wanted to slay every Israelite sent shivers down their spines … quite an obstacle. His size … blocks any progress. His sight … intimidates any viewer. His words … strikes terror in the hearers. The losers become slaves. So this truly was … quite an obstacle.

What to do?

— Stay close to source of our strength … the power of almighty God, who is greater than anything this world can throw at us.
— Keep your eyes on God … not on the circumstances, not on the problem, but on the problem solver. This is not ignoring the problem; but the main issue is God, not the obstacle.
— Stay suited up (Ready) … Ephesians 6 digs into our Spiritual armor. This talks of defensive pieces and offensive pieces. In all of this, we realize the armor is Spiritual. And when we are all suited up, we stand,. The obstacles are overcome.
— Be strategic (Set) … David’s power was not in his strength but in the Lord’s. By rightly dividing the Word of God, we can find wisdom and instruction.
— Take the shot (Go) … David ran towards the giant. Not enough. David said it was in the name of the Lord. Not enough. He had to take the shot.

David Jeremiah, in his book Overcomer, gives these basic reminders when facing obstacles …

1 . Refuse to be discouraged by your friends (or family) as David could’ve been.
2. Reinforce your focus on God. ((He is bigger, He is able))
3. Reflect on your previous victories. (((He was faithful then, He will be faithful now)))
4. Run towards your problems, not away from them. ((((Lust is the only thing scripture tells us to run from))))
5. Remember for Whom you are fighting (((((How glory, His honor, His name … and to encourage all who call on the Lord)))))

Obstacles? Stay the course with your eyes on Him.

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Final word on the hike. The obstacle of the storm may have delayed me doing Mount Rogers yesterday, but I will climb that mountain one day. Ain’t no mountain high enough. Ain’t no valley low enough.