The Ascent

“I call on the Lord in my distress, and He answered me. Save me Lord from lying lips and deceitful tongues.” (Psalm 120:1). 

The Psalms of Ascent are absolutely powerful. Just imagine with me for a second. You are David, and you have an army of people you thought you trusted trying to raise a conspiracy against you. You have to escape to the wilderness and mountains where going up, you pray and sing about God avenging you. You sing of His goodness and mercy. You cry out to Him in your pain, but you still praise Him. Now, we all have those moments in our faith walk where we have to as well ascend to the mountain. We have to retreat and dwell in His presence and rely on Him. God and His great mercy will fight for you, only if you call out to Him and believe in what He can do. 

A peaceful lake surrounded by trees reflecting the sky

I had to do that. At first, I wanted revenge my way. I never asked God to do it. I was telling people how I (hatefully) wished that everyone that hurt me would have some form of  hurt. I was so hurt feeling lonely, no community anymore and my name being slandered.  That pain that I had was real, but God pulled me down quickly. He said  “Revenge is not for your hand, but MINE.” I then began my ascent up the mountain. 

When you go up that mountain, I can tell you that it is steep. There are plenty of rocks. You are going to have to stop and rest. You will be out of breath. You may get pains in your knees, trip and hurt your knee.  You may have some people around you like David did. Me? My husband was there at a safe distance ready to catch me but giving me space because I didn’t want him near. That mountain requires you to have enduring faith that you will make it to the top. He is up on the mountain waiting. You just have to agree to meet Him there. 

After God told me He will take care of it all for me, He invited me up the mountain. Normally, we hear that God meets women where they are. Though He did that, He needed me up that mountain. At one point, I turned around. I did not want to continue. I stayed on the bottom where I was not supposed to be, but God and His mercy still waited for me at the top of the mountain patiently. One day, I finally decided to go back up. I encountered the rocks and being out of breath. This time, I allowed my husband to come closer. I allowed some people on the climb. When I wanted to stop, my little army (like David) was there alongside me. 

When I finally reached that mountain top, there He was in the beautiful pasture waiting for me. Though I am talking spiritually about this mountain, I was in the Smoky Mountains. I looked over the Blue Ridge Parkway at an overlook and my soul cried out. God was right there with me. When I thought I was broken, unworthy, not special or called for a time such as this, there Jesus was. I raised my hands to Him and said “I am here!” He showed me right there with a smile on His face that I made it. The grace that was given, the faith I kept, the trust I showed, I made it. The release of pressure I felt in my body is something I can not explain. God then showed me that I will begin the descent. When I share my story, many people will come to me and I have to be patient and kind. Trust them. When I share my story, be ready for the over pouring of testimonials, the offers and exposure. I then said “God, I am your vessel.”

Now it was time to descend from the mountain. It may be easier when you come down. You may do that awkward step with your knees to go slowly so you don't stumble down. You may take a break because let's be honest, you just went up that mountain, you want to pause with God and now He is asking you to go down. You may go ahead and do that bounce, skip and hop faster down. Honestly, you may just roll down so fast that you didn’t even know what was happening. Those people with you, they will be down the same way with you. Little did I know, I came down very slowly. I was careful with any rocks that may make me stumble. I was staying in faith but asked to go down slow and steady. Then, I began the descent faster and faster to where my legs were not even tired. I powered down that mountain with such speed and started running. I made it down but with the force of coming down, I kept running and I am still running. I am running my race with a smile through the falling rocks that are coming down from the trip up. Those rocks represent the stumbling rocks that I had still chasing me. They still wouldn’t go away. Luckily, my husband was there fighting those rocks to not hit me running down behind me. Eventually, I reached my hand behind me for him to run alongside me. Hand in Hand. The small army was growing larger and larger. 

I have been running non stop since. I had to stop a few times. Why? What He said to me happened. God brought the people He said he was going to bring to me. He brought people back into my life that God said that He will deal with and ended up going through the same hurt. I was patient and wanted to help them. My heart went from not trusting to wanting to be a safe space for them. Many others began to ask the right questions to understand. I shared my story on social media and many women flooded my inbox to tell me thank you for sharing. They were thanking me in the comments. People began reaching out to me wanting to interview me for my story because my faith healed me. I never thought this would happen. He has begun to avenge me spiritually and physically. 

 Now, I am hopeful and "knowful" that God is now calling me to start life coaching hundreds of women that were hurt and struggling with their faith. I will go up that mountain with them so they do not do it alone. 

When you go up that mountain, I will be there with you. You do not deserve to do this alone. Don’t be like me and keep people at a distance. Keep them right next to you holding your hand, pushing you back up. Sitting beside you when you need to catch a breath. Finally when you make it to the top to meet Jesus face to face, I will encourage you, like me, to sit with Him for a while. Maybe I will give the two of you space to talk. I will sit there on my knees in awe that He continues to wait for so many wounded women like me that went through the same hurt that they felt like they were not enough, they were not called, felt like there was no purpose. 

The time is now, woman of God, to start your climb. Do it now. Be a David in your faith. Cry to Him, ask Him to avenge you. Sing your praises to  Him for what He is doing and what you will be doing in the future. Trust in Him. Simply trust in Him.