Unshackled Moments ~ August 22, 2018 ~ The Impossible Climb

I love watching mountain climbing. It's amazing to me. I think it would be awesome to do what these people do, but not enough to actually put in the work to do it.  There is something about what they do that struck me today as a metaphor in recovery and discipleship.

First, on the more dangerous and difficult climbs, these athletes secure themselves. They use ropes to keep them safe. In faith and recovery, we have a tendency when we slip to condemn ourselves and feel like we've failed. Now we have to start all over and all that time and effort before is nullified and feels like a waste of time. But that is totally the wrong attitude.

Climbers fall. It's part of the process. They stretch and reach and lunge for hand holds and progress. Sometimes it doesn't work. They don't go all the way to the bottom. The rope catches them. They take a breath and try again. Sometimes they make an adaptation to the way that they are trying to go up the rock face. They evaluate the route and practice it in their minds and with their bodies. A route can take many tries to figure out the right sequence and location of grips to succeed. No one expects to just scoot up the mountain and having to backtrack a little or try again is part of learning and getting strong enough to make the climb. They don't dismiss the failures, or consider them wasted time and effort. It's part of the process and there's something to learn that will help them.

I watched this video earlier today, and around three minutes in I saw the greatest example of this as one of the best climbers in the world hung from his rope evaluating, thinking and trying the same move over and over. It truly is inspiring.

We have a safety rope on the climb of life and recovery. It's the Spirit. We can reach and stretch and try, because we know if we slip He will catch us. We're not about to die. We're safe in His arms. There are routes up that mountain that we don't see or understand at first, or aren't strong enough to make, but if we trust His care for us, we can continue to work and grow and learn, until by His grace we do what would be impossible on our own. We can make the impossible climb.



This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.