Julia’s finding life increasingly challenging – physically. In fact, because of the weaknesses brought on by IPF (unrelenting weariness, daily visits of dizziness, and crashing oxygen levels), unless God heals her, the life path ahead is all uphill. There is no coasting downhill. The fight for the fullest life within the bounds of possibility becomes more and more difficult as we leave the gentler slopes for the steeper climbs.

This once again challenges my paradigm of success. My vision of success has always been reaching the top of the mountain to take a look around, of getting the job down and down well, of doing so with a show of strength (knowledge and confidence). But God has not let me settle there. Instead, over the years He has continually hammered away at my soul’s idol, sending me tumbling backwards or downhill and calling me to start again.

All along, He’s wanted me to see that success from His standpoint is simply taking the next couple steps up the mountain, and there stopping to look around to give thanks. Success is in the starting again and perhaps reaching the heights once reached before, or not. But however far in, and however far up we get, success is in taking that step, and then stopping to breathe and give thanks.

Farther up, and further in! 

The heights beckon…

“And how blessed all those in whom you live, whose lives become roads you travel; They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks, discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain! God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!” (Psalm 84:5-7 MSG)