Strengthened by Mountain-Melting Faith

“The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,

before the Lord of all the earth.”

— Psalm 97:5 (NRSV)

What can we not achieve with steady faith? Could it be too much of a stretch to see this verse, above, as an encouragement; that our mountains—our trials and problems might melt like wax—and be levelled—before the Lord? I think not. Sure, this verse refers to physical allusions of power in the physical realm, but just as much there are spiritual illusions of power in the spiritual realm; the faith realm.

We have all had our mountainous problems; issues in life that surmounted our ability to believe we could either endure or find a way through them.

We have learned the hard way to doubt the faithfulness of God. We learned at these times that short-sightedness sells out too early; that remaining in the Lord, in patience and in fortitude, is actually the only way through.

If only we could see the image of the mountain before us—that gargantuan decision, with meandering valleys like a cavernous abyss—as it is, melted. If only that image could remain within the eyes of our hearts, informing the mind to remain steady in the trembling moment.

When we walk by faith and not sight our minds transform the mountainous range images into a challenge to be trekked. When we are ready to set off on this pilgrimage of dread, when we have resolved to plunge through the disaster zone, as we step, God morphs the landscape and that Everest is made assailable.

This is no mean feat. It took faith beyond sight to arrange it. God honoured the diligence of our trust. And the Lord sees no point in not favouring the faithful. His Word declares the righteous shall live by faith, and they shall be vindicated, exulted, and magnified in their obedience.

This is a trustworthy concept.

When we attend diligently to the matters of our lives, God honours our specific faithfulness to step forth in faith by many reconciliations of blessing.

When we agree with the psalmist—that “The Lord is king” (Ps. 97:1)—we are graced with the holy and inimitable favour of God. We have chosen obedience and the way of the Lord over disobedience and the ways of folly. This, of course, is not easy, and we fail much. But, one step at a time and we are again courting God’s Presence.

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Mountainous problems have their destiny in being melted like wax before the Lord.

If we agree, and there’s no sense in not agreeing, our faith will speak through our actions. We will step forth in faith, disregarding the fear in our sight. And God is with us, always.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

Acknowledgement: with thanks to John Volkofsky.