Welcome dear friend! I have a delightful cuppa ready with a delicious treat for our time of reflection together today.

We are traveling to scale the steep mountains on the Alps of Life’s Challenges.

I know that every person that joins me here has those days that are far more challenging then others.

For life has a habit of presenting mountains to climb that may seem absolutely insurmountable at first.

Problems in Life

These challenges may look different for each of us…

It may be;

• work
• relationship problems
• family issues
•  financial pressures
• grieving a loss
• chronic illness
• a spiritual crisis
• a battle with mental health

& the list could go on…

What ever the challenge, we find it difficult to navigate & quite overwhelming at times.

Difficult because it’s taxing on our emotional energy, overwhelming because we may not want to deal with yet another challenge.

Especially when we are already juggling the ropes from scaling the mountain with other issues & we are, let’s face it, already weary!

Weary of the challenges that take us right out of our comfort zones. Comfort zones that we are already, well, really comfortable within.

And this new (or old) challenge we’re facing is really, really uncomfortable & even a bit scary. In fact it may be down right painful for us to face physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually!

As painful as it may be, did you know that facing life’s challenges do very important & positive things for our overall mental & spiritual health?

Let’s examine these…

Life Challenges;

• Help us face issues that may have become problematic in our life or the lives of significant Others…which ultimately brings healing.

• Help us to grow within…building & strengthening our resolve for more difficult climbs that will inevitably lay ahead…strengthening us.

• Most importantly create humility…highlighting our need for a deeper relationship with our Creator.

Our Anchor & Belayer

You see we were created for relationship with the Creator, He desires to be our Anchor in the challenging climbs of life.

The Anchor is the One who prepares, assures & fastens the safety gear at the Summit, for us to scale the cliffs of Mt Challenge.

He also desires to be our Belayer, the Belayer  s the One who continually monitors the ropes, taking the slack from the rope during the climb making sure there is a continuous supply of rope for a safe descent down the other side of mountain after succeeding in reaching the summit!

However we have to allow the Anchor & Belayer to attach the necessary ropes to our harness for a safe & secure ascent.

Let’s make this personal…

Let me personalize this, this past week I had a rock shelf experience (where climbers can have a revitalizing break from the ascent) on my climb of Mount Fibromyalgia in the Alps of Life’s Challenges.

This rock shelf took the form of three unusually good physical days for me.

I was feeling energized, my pain had dropped a few notches & I felt mentally alert with no Fibro fog (Listening…).

This was like an alcove of pure bliss & for a moment I allowed myself to take in the breathtaking view from this shelf, a view of my old well self, once again, scaling the heights of wellness.

Then came the day the rock shelf collapsed from under me, the fatigue hit hard, the pain cranked up & the mist of Fibro fog descended.

I started to feel myself falling into the abyss of discouragement but then the safety rope caught & held me steady attached to my harness of faith.

Because I had chosen my Anchor & Belayer to be the Creator God of the Universe & His Son Jesus, He will never let go of the rope & His anchor continues to hold me safe & secure.

I know that I will reach the summit one day, I’m assured of it…

It is always wise to reflect upon who or what we have anchored ourselves to…

There are those who choose to climb solo, relying on their own strength & experience for the climb.

They feel they don’t need the safety harness of faith roped to an Anchor & Belayer.

This my friend is a very dangerous journey…

Solo climbers quite often get part of the way in their ascent up Mt Challenge & become completely exhausted by their efforts, becoming stuck on the mountainside unable to move.

This situation has a very high possibility of a tragic outcome causing severe emotional & spiritual injuries. As a Clinical Counselor I have seen too many lives devastated in this way.

Who is your Anchor & Belayer my friend? Would you like to join me in Prayer?

Until next time,

Jennifer

You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

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© 2018 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photo on Pexels.com

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