Climbing Mt Coolum earlier in the year was a great idea - until we got half way up the slope to the steep incline, which is when our post-Christmas bodies decided maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Nevertheless, we pushed forward.
Now to those of you who are pretty fit, you may be laughing right now knowing that Mt Coolum really isn't a difficult climb - and you're right (even I am laughing). Which is why we did our best to look like we were totally enjoying every step as we gave way to the other climbers on the path - not so much out of politeness but rather as an excuse to catch our breath.
My 11 year old kindly offered to catch up with us on our way back down and his older sister was more than happy to wait and 'look after him' until we got back .
"You're so close to the top, you must keep going!" we encouraged (while secretly enjoying the excuse to stop too).
Breathtaking
You'll be glad to know, we all made it to the top and were rewarded with the breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and ocean. Although we were expecting this reward, the thrill of arriving at the top was even more wonderful than we first thought.
If we had decided to stop half way, we would never have known the full extent of what lay ahead for us, and the effort we had already afforded to the climb would have been wasted.
We would have missed this opportunity to soak in the beauty of the expanded horizon exposing lush mountains and stretching ocean as far as the eye could see.
We would have also missed the opportunity to see another part of God's beautiful handiwork from this particular spot, on this particular mountain, on this particular day and remember once again how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world.
It was worth the struggle.
Worth the struggle
When I read in the Bible stories of people like Noah, Abraham, Moses and Joshua, to name just a few, I am in awe of how they caught the vision of the dream God had given them and faithfully continued on their paths even though they were mocked, fought against and pushed back and even though the reward was seemingly humanly impossible and incomprehensible.
Noah was saved from the flood that wiped out the entire world. Abraham received in his old age, the child that was promised him in his younger years. Moses led his people out of slavery and Joshua led them into the promised land.
Along the way, these people saw things that only God could do. Noah may have been ridiculed for building an ark, but it was the only thing that floated when the flood came.
Abraham was told he would be the father of nations even though his wife was barren until she was beyond child-bearing years.
Moses saw the sea part and food fall out of heaven as he led his people to safety.
Joshua saw the walls of the city collapse after leading his army around them for seven days.
Not one of these journey's was easy. Fraught with pain, trials and grief, the strongest man's endurance would have been tested beyond measure.
The impossible is possible
Yet these men knew how big their God was. They knew beyond doubt that he was capable of doing the impossible - and he did. God was and is still faithful.
Whether or not our situations turn out the way we hope and when we hope, believing that God is capable of doing the impossible, makes all things possible. It just requires our obedience and knowledge of the one who is capable of all things.
"You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God: besides him there is no other." Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 35.
Rebecca and her husband Tony, have four children and live on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Rebecca loves writing children stories, interest articles and teaching piano. She is grateful for a God who loves us.
Rebecca Moore's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/rebecca-moore.html