pressed but not crushed.

There's a song that I've heard a hundred times on KLOVE.  One of those songs you hear and mindlessly sing along to until one day you stop and pay attention to the lyrics.  The song was This is Only a Mountain by Jason Castro.  Here's the video from YouTube:

I was honestly a little offended the first time I really realized what I was singing along to.  Only a mountain?  Doesn't he know how big my mountain is?  But really it's so true.  "This is only a mountain, you don't have to find your way around it.. Tell it to move, it'll move.  Tell it to fall, it'll fall.  This is only a moment, you don't have to let your fear control it.  Ask like you believe, trust like you can see.." At the end of the song it says, "even when it looks big, even when you feel small, just a little bit of faith can change it all." I'm so guilty of taking my mountain on, trying to figure it out on my own.  But you know what?  It's exhausting.  I was never meant to carry the weight of the world (or even my little corner of it) on my shoulders.  All I really have to do is lay it down.  Matthew 11:28 says, Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Weary and burdened... yep.  Rest for my soul... sounds like exactly what I need.  My boyfriend texted this Scripture to me this morning:  "Trust God from the bottom of your heart;  don't try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;  He's the One who will keep you on track."

"pressed but not crushed.  print available in my shop"

This is a painting I did a few years ago, and it sits beside my bed.  I see it everyday but don't really pay attention.  This morning, I read and decided to hold onto what it says, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;  perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted but not abandoned;  struck down, but not destroyed... Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)  

"Light and momentary troubles".. again, it almost feels offensive.  I don't think Paul (or Jason Castro) meant to belittle the circumstances we face.  But in the bigger picture, our mountains and troubles are  part of our journey, and once we're on the other side, they don't seem quite so big anymore.  

I don't know what kind of mountains you may be facing, but I do know this: God sees your mountain. And more importantly, He sees you. You are not alone. I don't know whether He's going to carry you over it, or make a way for you around it... but I do know that He will be with you every step of the way. Seek Him. Trust Him. He will provide rest for your weary soul.