We read of the call of Abram in Genesis 12. God told him to leave his country, his people and his father’s house and go to the land He would show him. In other words leave your place of safety, security and familiarity,  trust Me and I will show you where to go.  It’s interesting to note the Lord didn’t give him the destination or even details of what might befall him on the journey, but a simple instruction to leave where you are and go to the place I will show you.

We learn from the first few verses in Genesis 12 there would be promises attached to his obedience:- “I will make you a great nation, I will bless you…and make your name great.”  Abram was 75 when he received this instruction and yet we read in v4 “so Abram left as the Lord had told him.”

How did he reach his destination?  One step at a time!  When many people would be contemplating how to spend that phase of retirement, Abram stepped out in obedience into the great unknown and I believe it’s fair to say it was a blessing the Lord didn’t show him then exactly that which lay ahead.

I was recently reminded of a bushwalking trip I was on in the Southwest wilderness area of Tasmania more years ago than I care to remember. A group of us had hiked all day in the summer heat and we reached our campsite adjacent to a lake late in the afternoon as the sun began to set below the surrounding mountains.  I remember looking at the map and realising our challenge for the next day began with a steep climb of around 800m up the Ironbound range (aptly named for sure). This range looked huge from our campsite.

The morning broke with the sound of heavy rain and strong winds battering the tent.  We packed up and set out on the next leg of our journey – one step at a time.  By the time we began our ascent of this huge mountain range, the rain with icy sleet was coming in horizontally driven by what seemed like cyclonic winds.  There was no turning back. We had to press on in order to complete our 14 day hike.  I remember quite vividly, I just had to focus on the next step. To look up was daunting to look out was frightening as the lightning began to flash ever closer.  Just another step and we were nearer the summit which had to be reached to not only see what was on the other side but of course to continue our journey.

Let me encourage you.  No matter what mountain you are presently facing, be it health challenges, financial, relational, emotional or spiritual, it is overcome one step at a time.  Each and every day is a gift from God and ever so precious.  If we focus on the height or width of the ‘mountain,’ it will invariably appear unclimbable but I have learned over the years to just focus on the next step of the journey.  When I’ve done this (and I don’t get it right every time), it has amazed me the mountains that seemed too high, too wide, too hard, too huge or too catastrophic, with the Lord’s strength and power have in the fullness of time been traversed, climbed and conquered and often not quite in the way I had expected.

Integrity, character, moral strength, resilience and a Godly reputation are built one day at a time, in the midst of the trials. It is not an instant or overnight process.