Mountains Can Move Faith

No, I did not get the title backward. No, I do not want to strike that and reverse it. I meant what I said. The verse that we know and many Christians are familiar with, tells us that faith can move mountains. But, indulge me for a moment, if you will. I say also that mountains can move faith.

Mountains are beautiful and majestic. Tall, snow-covered peaks, fresh mountain air is all wonderful to behold. The hills are alive with the sound of...silence. Yes, I meant to say that too.

When we are stressed, overwhelmed, mad, sad, discouraged or afraid we need to find a place of silence and solitude. When we feel like we lack faith and face a mountain of doubt we need to find a quiet, secluded mountaintop.

Jesus found a solution to that and leaves an example for us through His Word. He often drew to a secluded place to pray, he often climbed the mountain top to be alone with the Lord to embrace the peace and quiet and the hope that only He can bring.

Jesus once went to the top of the mountain with three of his disciples to be alone and pray. But when things started changing and becoming unfamiliar, the apostles became afraid. I mean dead people appeared, Jesus was being transfigured before their very eyes, His face was shining bright, a cloud appeared out of nowhere and a voice from heaven spoke. One translation says, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. This was scary and unfamiliar to them, yet Jesus simply told them, don’t be afraid.

We do this too, you know, when things in our lives change and become unfamiliar. We may fall down on our faces, we may cry a few tears, we may be terrified, but then we read these words from Jesus and are reminded that He simply says don‘t. Don’t be afraid. He’s reaching His hand out to us and picking us up off of the ground. When life is starting to throw us off Jesus says, go to the mountain top alone and pray and He whispers, "Do not be afraid."

We don't even have to physically climb high to reach the mountain top to God. Your mountaintop can be when you're driving in your car, alone in your room, taking a walk outside, on your knees, or anywhere you can find some quiet time with God, calling out to to Him in prayer and pouring your heart out to Him. That's the beauty of God. He meets us where we are at. It’s our faith that reaches high and God's grace reaches down to us.

Another time Jesus wanted to be alone all by Himself. He once again went to the mountain to pray and when he came down he was faced with his apostles being afraid yet again. Caught in a storm on a boat in the middle of the sea, yet again he encouraged them to not be afraid. The same invitation offered to the apostles is offered to us. The storm may rage all around. We may be battered and torn by the wind and the waves of life and reality but yet Jesus stands with His hand extended, encouraging our faith and asks if we want to walk on the water with Him through the storm, as He reminds us yet again, “do not be afraid.”

Jesus reminds us that our faith can walk on water, that our faith can move mountains but we often forget how the mountains can move our faith. Not just the majestic beauty of his creation, but the beauty of being alone with God in prayer on top of the mountain. This kind of heart wrenching, soul searching prayer time with God can move our faith.

I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1-2

The last mountain Jesus climbed was the hill of Calvary where he sacrificed himself and died for you and me. As he hung on the cross on the lonely hilltop He was thinking of his disciples, and encourages us still to not be afraid. He has won the final victory when he said it is finished. The mountain he climbed to Calvary is the momentous peak of where our faith culminates. This is the climax of our faith, it is the ultimate victory. This is the crown of our faith, this is where it all starts and ends. This is the mountain that ultimately moves the faith of every believing Christian, enabling us to believe our faith can move mountains.