Remember the Mountain

Remember the Mountain
We often talk about finding God in the valley.
We talk about trusting Him when life is hard, when we're exhausted, uncertain, or simply trying to put one foot in front of the other. And we should. The valleys are where some of our deepest faith is formed.
But I think we also need to remember something just as important:
We need to remember God on the mountaintop.
This year, I stepped into a new leadership position at Cascade Christian, and I have to say—I'm really enjoying it. I feel like I've finally hit my stride.
I'm taking the things I've learned through years of schooling and putting them into practice. I'm drawing from teachers I've observed and learned from along the way. I'm taking all those little pieces I've collected over the years and finally seeing how they fit together.
And things are going really well.
I'm tired, of course. Our kids' schedules are packed, our family calendar is packed, and there are plenty of soccer nights when we're all running in a hundred different directions. But underneath the exhaustion, I feel something else:
Gratitude.
At Cascade, we have a spiritual theme each year. Last year's theme was “For a Purpose.” When I was offered this new position, I remember thinking about that theme and realizing, Oh...this is what that means.
For a long time, I couldn't necessarily see how all the pieces of my journey were going to fit together. The schooling. The experiences. The teachers who invested in me. The things I've learned through both successes and failures.
But suddenly, I could see it.
God had been preparing me for a purpose.
And now this year's theme is “Made New.”
Once again, I'm watching a theme come alive in ways I never could have planned. I'm stepping into a new role, growing into new responsibilities, and discovering new confidence in things I once wasn't sure I could do.
It's honestly pretty special to watch these themes continue to show up in my everyday life.
Almost like God planned it Himself.
And maybe He did.
Sometimes we don't recognize what God is doing until we have enough distance to look back.
That's what makes Deuteronomy 8:10 so meaningful to me:
“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.”
God wanted His people to remember Him not only when they were hungry and struggling, but when they were full.
That's harder than we think.
When we're in the valley, we know we need God. But when things are going well, it's easy to simply keep moving.
And I'll admit, sometimes I do.
At the end of a busy but very successful day, I can be so focused on tomorrow's schedule that I forget to stop and thank God for getting me here.
I forget that some of the things I'm living now are things I once prayed for.
I also know I haven't gotten here alone. I have an incredible husband who has supported me through all of it. On the nights when soccer has us running in every direction, he's often the one making sure dinner is ready. He steps in, carries the load, and gives me the space to pursue what God has called me to do.
I am so grateful for him.
And ultimately, I'm grateful to God for the gift of him—and for every person He has placed along my path.
Because that's the thing about the mountaintop:
It's not that everything is perfect.
It's that from up there, you can finally see the view.
You can look back and recognize how God was working in places you couldn't see at the time.
You can look around and recognize the people He used to help you get there.
And you can look ahead knowing that when the next valley comes, the same God who brought you to the mountain will meet you there, too.
So this week, I want to encourage you to pause on your mountaintop.
Look around.
Notice what God has done.
Thank Him for the answered prayers, the opportunities, the people, the growth, and even the ordinary blessings—like dinner waiting after a long day.
Don't be so busy climbing toward the next thing that you forget to praise God for where you are right now.
Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is simply stop, look around, and say:
“God, look what You've done.”
And then keep walking—with gratitude for the mountain, faith for the valley, and confidence that He has been—and always will be—for a purpose.
A Prayer for the Week
Lord, thank You for the mountains as well as the valleys. Help us recognize Your hand in the good seasons and not rush past the blessings You've given us. Remind us to stop and praise You for how far You've brought us, for the people You've placed in our lives, and for the ways You are making us new. May we never forget that every good gift comes from You. Amen.