Not the Destination, the Climb
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." – James 1:2-4
There is something powerful about the song The Climb by Miley Cyrus. The lyrics talk about how life is not just about reaching the destination but about the journey, the struggles, and the growth that happens along the way. That message lines up with the way God works in our lives.
So often, we think that following God means our path will be smooth, that He will just hand us blessings, and one day, almost effortlessly, we will be living in everything we dreamed of. While God does promise blessings to those who walk with Him, that is not the point. It has never been about getting the rewards. It is about the journey. It is about the climb.
James 1:2-4 reminds us that trials are not just obstacles to overcome. They are part of the process that makes us who we are meant to be. The difficulties, the waiting, the challenges, and the setbacks are not signs that God has abandoned you. They are the very things He is using to shape you. The goal is not to have an easy life. The goal is to become the person He created you to be.
If all God cared about was the destination, He could snap His fingers and give you everything you ever wanted. But He does not work like that because He knows that it is in the climb where faith is built. It is in the climb where character is formed. It is in the climb that you learn to trust Him more deeply than ever before.
So if you feel like you are struggling uphill, like the promises of God are taking longer than expected, or like the journey is harder than you thought it would be, do not get discouraged. The reward is not just at the top of the mountain. The reward is found in who you become while climbing it. Trust God in the process. Keep taking steps forward. Keep believing. Because one day, you will look back and realize that the climb was where God was doing His greatest work in you.
There is something powerful about the song The Climb by Miley Cyrus. The lyrics talk about how life is not just about reaching the destination but about the journey, the struggles, and the growth that happens along the way. That message lines up with the way God works in our lives.
So often, we think that following God means our path will be smooth, that He will just hand us blessings, and one day, almost effortlessly, we will be living in everything we dreamed of. While God does promise blessings to those who walk with Him, that is not the point. It has never been about getting the rewards. It is about the journey. It is about the climb.
James 1:2-4 reminds us that trials are not just obstacles to overcome. They are part of the process that makes us who we are meant to be. The difficulties, the waiting, the challenges, and the setbacks are not signs that God has abandoned you. They are the very things He is using to shape you. The goal is not to have an easy life. The goal is to become the person He created you to be.
If all God cared about was the destination, He could snap His fingers and give you everything you ever wanted. But He does not work like that because He knows that it is in the climb where faith is built. It is in the climb where character is formed. It is in the climb that you learn to trust Him more deeply than ever before.
So if you feel like you are struggling uphill, like the promises of God are taking longer than expected, or like the journey is harder than you thought it would be, do not get discouraged. The reward is not just at the top of the mountain. The reward is found in who you become while climbing it. Trust God in the process. Keep taking steps forward. Keep believing. Because one day, you will look back and realize that the climb was where God was doing His greatest work in you.
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