Overcoming Obstacles With God: 4 Steps
The cold mountain wind rips at me while the sun scorches my chapped hands with desert-like heat. I spit out the gritty sand and continue my ascent. I don’t realize it just yet, but this ascent is teaching me about overcoming obstacles with God, a lesson I’ll need when different obstacles arise on different kinds of mountain climbs.
Overcoming Obstacles With God
Glancing upward, I’m only 60 yards from the summit. Sixty grueling yards of rough rock outcroppings and sheer drop-offs of over 1,000 feet stand before me. It seems there are cliffs on both sides of this journey.
I’ve barely begun the decade of my twenties, and I’m certain I’m invincible. I’m sure I’ve figured out most of what I’ll need to know for life. I have no idea.
After clambering to the summit of the 12,000-foot mountain and lying flat in the flogging wind, the bandanna in my hair whips like sheets on a clothesline.
Climbing mountains is my greatest passion in life, and I can think of nothing that would ever be more important. I have so much to learn.
I stare at MacLeod Lake, over a thousand feet below, and I plan my descent. There’s no easy way down. There’s only a narrow ridge with sheer drop-offs on each side. I’ll have to risk it.
When the Path Is Narrow
As I reflect on my summer in Wyoming’s Gros Ventre Wilderness, I recognize that I took too many risks. I also thank God that I’m not the person I was. This all came to mind this morning as I opened my Bible to my daily reading plan.
Chapter 14 of 1 Samuel finds King Saul’s son, Jonathan, preparing to advance on the Philistines. Verse 4 reads: “Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp crag on the one side and a sharp crag on the other side, and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.”
Jonathan needed to make forward progress to achieve his goal, but he found himself in a precarious situation. He needed to cross a mountain pass with a sharp crag on each side of the pass. (To read my post about 5 unexpected things God does while we suffer, join me by clicking here.)
On Pressing Forward
The Hebrew word “Bozez” refers to something that is gleaming or slippery. The word “Seneh” means thorny. On one side he faced a steep slope of thorns. On the other, a dangerously slippery descent.
Despite the risks, Jonathan pressed forward, advanced against the Philistines, and overtook them.
He braved the thorns and the drop-off, and he pressed forward toward his goal.
Because I’ve climbed many mountains, the analogy powerfully strikes me: When the journey grows perilous (and obstacles arise), keep your eyes on the goal and keep walking.
When the journey grows perilous, keep your eyes on the goal and keep walking. #encounteringGodintheordinary #overcomingobstacles Click To Tweet
Overcoming Obstacles With God: 4 Ways
As we aim to overcome obstacles with God’s help, let’s break this down. What might it look like to keep our eyes on the goal?
1. We focus on where we want to go.
Whether I’m aiming to start a business, hoping to overcome the pain of past heartbreak, wading through the deep waters of troubled relationships, trying to parent with love and compassion, or seeking healing in a difficult matter, I can overcome when I keep my eyes on the goal and keep walking.
Where do you want to go today, friend?
What would it look like to reach your goal?
Keep your gaze fixed on this goal as you press forward.
2. We keep in mind our ultimate goal.
The slippery slope of fear will threaten to take you down. The thorny path of painful self-sacrifice, slow progress, and failure will threaten to stop your progress.
When this happens, remember your ultimate goal. Your ultimate goal is Christ: to know him more deeply through this trial and to share his love with others in the process.
I’m thankful for the author of Hebrews, who reminds us of exactly where to fix our eyes when things get tough: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).
3. We are resilient.
Most journeys include at least a few setbacks. You can learn how to overcome obstacles with God by getting up after you fall.
God is using these obstacles to help you grow and become more mature. When you fall on the way to your goal, don’t give up. Get up and keep going.
4. We keep asking God for strength.
Lastly, we can learn how to overcome obstacles with God’s help by continuing to ask him for strength.
Keep talking to him as you press forward toward your goal. He wants to make his power perfectly known in your weakest moments. He wants to give you strength.
Keep talking to him as you press forward toward your goal. He wants to make his power perfectly known in your weakest moments. He wants to give you strength. #goals #resilience Click To TweetA Free Devotional to Help You in Overcoming Obstacles With God:
I have a gift for you today. Set Free: Let God Do What You Cannot is my new 10-day free online devotional. This devotional explores ten common areas in which we need God to do what we cannot do for ourselves: Set us free. You will learn to find freedom from bad habits, besetting sins, fear, worry, insecurity, and more. This ten-day online devotional is yours for free with promo code GRACE right here. 
These Two Books Are Free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or For Sale in Print:
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book for free on the Kindle Unlimited plan or for sale in print for 12.99 right here. This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
Attention, all moms and daughters!
Lastly, in addition to writing to adults, I am also passionate about ministering to the next generation.
My 12-year-old daughter Bekah and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book together. We hope to help moms and daughters connect and grow in faith together. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section.
Our vision is for girls ages 7-17 to enjoy it with their moms, grandmas, or older women they look up to. However, mothers and daughters of all ages are using this book to grow closer together! This book makes a wonderful gift for a mother or daughter you care about!
You can buy your paperback or eBook on Amazon right here. 
