Climbing Skyward

It started out as just another workout, jogging down the road, and really it turned out to be a wonderful life experience. I am the type of person that when told I can't accomplish a task I become bound and determined to do it! As I was running down the road I was going past a sky scraper of a hill. It was so steep, beautiful, yet intimidating. Glancing at it a few times I got the impression to climb it. "You cannot do it!" A voice sounded in my head. I stopped. I studied the hill for a few more seconds trying to decide if I had enough time to make it to the top. "Don't even try! You will disappoint yourself." Said the voice again. "Stop!" I silently yelled back. "Yes, I know I can do it!"  "Even if you are able to reach the top, look at all of the branches, you will be hurt." I couldn't tell where this degrading voice was coming from. It couldn't be inside me, I'm much too positive to think like that.  It didn't matter because if I was going to climb I had to start right away. I took one more look around before beginning the steep ascent. The first 30 meters weren't so hard, but then out of no where there were large sharp rocks underneath the leaves that lay at my feet. They made it much more difficult to menuv around. I fought hard to dodge tree branches and slippery rocks all while keeping my body balanced going up hill. I made a habit of stopping to rest at large trees. They helped for a few seconds and then I would continue the journey I was almost regretting by now. After what seemed like a life time I noticed that I only had about 50 meters left, which also came with the realization that this was the steepest, rockiest and most tree-less area I had yet to cover. Using every muscle in my body, climbing with my hands, knees,and feet I made it! I had conquered the massive hill. Almost imidiately the hill seemed smaller, less scary. I walked back and forth at the top seeing the different paths that if I had taken the time to think about, would have made my travel up much easier. Even so I was elated! I had done what someone thought that I could not do. There was true happiness in me! I sat at the top contemplating what I had just accomplished. The voice had to of been someone who is against me. Someone who hates seeing me succeed, and tells me that I am worthless- SATAN. The tree branches I had known of from the start that had hurt me and helped me - SIN. The buried rocks - MISTAKES others make that effect my life negatively. Resting trees - RECOVERY and REPENTANCE. Could I really just have made a hiking story in to a real life lesson for myself? If so, where was God in the mix? He is everything. He is everywhere. My determination- GOD. The dirt I pushed off of - GOD. The air I breathed - GOD. All of it. I was in amazement. This journey had not been about me overcoming an obstacle, it had been about Him. About how He overcame every obstacle for me. He felt the pain and disappointment of those scratching tree branches, and scrapes from the embedded rocks. He clung to the trees pushing me even though I was in pain. He made it to the top.