From the Edges – At the Mountain Top

Morning Devotions – From the Edges

Pastor Calvin Cook

Where you have been to where you are going

Scripture focus – Jeremiah 30:8-10

In that day, declares the Lord Almighty, I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. . Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king; whom I will raise up for them. So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel.

I love the mountains! I love to look at the mountains! When traveling, one of the first things I notice are the mountain ranges. I have some special places and special mountain ranges I love. I love to sit on our front porch in Hyndman and look at the Wills Mountain that is literally right there just a few feet away.

I can sit for a long time in the shadow of that mountain and think, pray, imagine, dream, recollect, and find a quiet sanctuary to just be still. I might be partial, and this might be prejudicial, but in no place in the world does a mountain range do something for me like the mountain ranges that go through Somerset and Bedford counties.

This morning as I thought about these mountain ranges, I thought about life, past, present, and future. I imagined being at the peak of one of those mountains and getting lost in the view. The view was not the valley or creek or people below but of past, present, and future.

I looked back and considered all the mountains that I had to climb to get to where I am today. Thought about some of the rough terrain I had to maneuver.  Thought about some who had blazed the trail or wrote a map with directions. I thought about victories and defeats. Amid it all I thought about God and that through journey, God has been right there, sometimes acknowledged, sometimes not.  I gave thanks and prayed for forgiveness, almost in the same breath.

I stood in the middle of the mountain today and thought about things that are before me, thought about victories that will be one today and maybe a few battles that will be lost. I prayed ‘Lord in this day may you be glorified, will you guide my steps, will you give me direction, and when I come conceited and self-centered, may you remind me who I am in you.

I stood in the middle of that mountain and looked at the mountains ahead of me. I know there will be trials, hard work, perseverance, and persistence needed to stand at the top of the next mountain to look back, look at where I am right now and to look ahead. This is called life!

This life will be easier when we allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide. The Haitian culture has a saying that I say often in my broken Creole which I will spare you of and share in English – “Behind that mountain there are more mountains yet”

The scripture for this morning was God through the prophet Jeremiah reminding the people that through it all God has been with them, a source of deliverance, comfort, and strength. The people were encouraged to keep their eyes and heart set on God, may it be the same for us.