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When I was a teenager my boyfriend (who is now my husband) used to take me skiing. He was a great skier and more than confident to face the steep slopes. I wouldn’t dare go near them. Well, except for once…

Paul kept insisting I try to ski a more difficult hill. Looking back, I’m quite sure he was sick and tired of the few novice slopes that I was content with skiing all day long. So I gave in to the taunting and decided to try.

When I hopped off the ski lift and looked down the mountain I became paralyzed with fear. I did NOT want to go down. He tried to speak logic to me and stroke my competitive side as to help muster my courage.

I tried.

I fell.

I rolled.

I only rolled halfway down. This meant I still had the rest of the mountain to face. My fear and anxiety turned to anger. It was ugly.

I’m sure he was thankful for the padding of good ski clothing, because I have a distant memory of hitting him once, twice, or even three times with my poles. I felt alone on that mountain. He brought me there, and I blamed him for my fear.

Today, when this memory from 25 years ago resurfaced, I began thinking about how sometimes we feel frightened where we are and become angry with God for allowing us to be there.

Paul was willing to ski me down the mountain. He was a great skier and willing to teach and assist me. I wasn’t alone, but I was so full of fear that I couldn’t see his generosity. I couldn’t accept his help. All I could do was shout and beat the poor guy with my poles. (There must have been something good about me. He married me anyway.)

It’s the same with God. No matter where we are, we will find Him there. He is right beside us and has every intention of guiding us down the mountain to level ground. Yet, too often, we don’t see Him or allow Him to help because of our intense fear over whatever it is gripping us.

I want to encourage you to see God as your help. Allow Him to work alongside you and guide you down the scary mountain. I realize it is a difficult place to be and there are no easy answers or quick fixes when it comes to facing hard battles that life brings us. However, if you allow Christ to ski you down the mountain, you will gain more than you could have ever imagined throughout the journey.

Psalm 97:5

The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. (N.K.J.V.)

By the way… my temper isn’t what it once was, and I have never again beaten my husband with ski poles. To give you a little window into his crazy side, let me tell you this:

Before we were married, he held me down and had is brother hold a live goldfish over my mouth. Just for fun! I thought I might die.  And that was the day I declared us even!

We’ve been married nearly 22 years with no more violent ski or live goldfish incidents. We are a match made in heaven.