WHAT GOD PROMISES WHEN MOUNTAINS DON’T MOVE
What do we do when mountains don’t seem to move? You’ve been praying and believing, and yet, there it is. In fact, it seems like there are a few more mountains that popped up right behind the one in front of you!
If you’re anything like me, your mind can easily drift into fear, frustration, or uncertainty. Faith in the outcome you’re praying for might even flounder a bit.
I think about Joseph when his brother sold him into slavery. That would have been so hard, the betrayal, but then knowing you were a slave for the rest of your life. He did his best there and rose up in the ranks, but then got hit hard again when he was falsely accused of sexual assault and thrown into prison. His mountain seemed to grow and not shrink over time.
I also think about Paul writing the book of Philippians. The theme of Philippians is joy, yet he wrote it from a dark prison. That combination doesn't make sense in natural terms, but his joy wasn't natural, it was supernatural. It was rooted in Jesus and nothing else.
It's easy to be thankful and grateful when everything around us is going the way we perceive it should. But what about when it's not?
Philippians 4:8 says:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The word “think” in the Greek here means:
To count, compute, calculate, take inventory. It also means to deem, judge, purpose, and decide.
I don't know about you, but for me it would have been pretty difficult to count and take inventory of noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable things in a damp, dark prison. Paul did not just have a little bit of joy, he had unshakable joy that defied all logic.
And it was all because of Jesus.
Friend, I don’t know why your mountain hasn’t moved yet. I don’t know why it’s there in the first place. What I’m suggesting here is that you decide to purposefully take inventory of the really good things in your life…salvation being the top one…so that you “see” your mountains differently.
God stopped me in my tracks when I was listening to the Bible the other day with this verse:
Acts 14:17
“but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”
I felt God say directly to me, “Dorothy, no matter how bad it gets or how bad it’s been, my goodness IS there, you just have to decide to see it.”
(Sometimes that ‘Holy Spirit conviction’ is strong, right? Ouch.)
So, how do we see it? Philippians 4:8 isn’t about toxic positivity, it’s about making a conscious choice to align our thoughts with God’s.
I think about some of the lyrics to “Battle Belongs” by Phil Wickham:
When all I see is the battle, You see my victory
When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved
And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me
There's nothing to fear now for I am safe with You
When all I see are the ashes, You see the beauty
Thank You, God
When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb
God sees so much more than we do.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help realign your thoughts with God’s:
Am I rehearsing the worst-case scenario, or choosing to believe the best?
(What’s the most lovely and hope-filled perspective I can take here?)
Where have I seen evidence of God’s kindness recently?
(Connect this to Acts 14:17—look for God’s fingerprints in your day because He PROMISES to be there!)
Who or what consistently influences my thinking, and do they/it align with Philippians 4:8?
(Am I guarding my input? Am I surrounded by truth-tellers or fear-feeders?)
I pray God moves your mountain, my friend!! But while you are waiting for it to move, look for the goodness God has already given you.
Always know that one of the excellent, praiseworthy things I think about and purposefully count as a blessing is YOU!
In passionate purpose,
Dorothy