How Does a Mountain Move? By Yvette Walker
My lovely friend and Jesus girl, Yvette, shares with us in this post. She has a new devotional out, Whispering in His Ear: A Month of Conversations with God, that I’m reading and love. So I asked her to share one of my favorite entries with this community. Let’s find out, how does a mountain move?
By Yvette Walker
HIS TIMING, NOT OURS
How does a mountain move?
Scripture: Exodus 23:28-30
ESV: I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.
Hello God. You move mountains, though I don’t always see it.
Little by little. That’s the answer to the titular question, and it’s also what God did on behalf of the Israelites on their way to possessing the promised land. He championed their victory and drove out their enemies. Little by little. But at the time, it seemed like God’s actions weren’t fast enough or mighty enough to those desert wanderers. They lamented their condition and asked “why?” When they lacked faith, God changed the timeline. When they gained faith and prayed, He rewarded them by being their champion.
And when I see problems in my life or in my family, I question, “why?” But do I raise my arms in prayer and submission? I must remember that, so God will be my champion.
When I see problems in my life or in my family, I question, “why?” But do I raise my arms in prayer and submission? I must remember that, so God will be my champion. #devotional Click To TweetMany families fight disease, and in my family, it has been Alzheimer’s. My father had Alzheimer’s and my mother-in-law had it. And I hate this disease. It robs our loved ones of their memories, their families, and their lives.
My father lived with it for years before we knew because my mother hid it from us. Only after she died did my sister and I realize what was happening. My sister became His primary caregiver.
When my husband’s mother was in the throes of the disease, my sister-in-law took care of her. As I saw her in this caregiver role, it reminded me of my sister. Again the question came, “why?”
What I SHOULD have done is pray instead of question.
With this realization, I began praying for my mother- and sister-in- law. I realized, too, that while God doesn’t afflict, He does take the affliction and uses it for His purpose and glory. My father’s illness drew my sister and me closer to each other, and I’m seeing it do the same in Tim’s family.
How does a mountain move? Prayer for daily conversation:
Slowly, we increasingly began to spend more time and resources in the life of my mother-in-law to help give care. And it created a unique bond in the family. While I hate this disease, I love the God who brings together a family to help take care of its matriarch.
Lord, give me patience and a desire to pray when I’m in the middle of my own desert. Father, forgive Your children who sometimes forget who You are and what You can do. Bless those afflicted and bless the caregivers. Thank You for what You create in the middle of it all.
Amen.
Exercise:
Pray the prayer for daily conversation. What problems have you lamented but have neglected to pray about? In the back of this devotional, make a list of what you should be praying for and give God the glory for what He will create out of it.
Hello God. You move mountains, though I don’t always see it. #devotional Click To Tweet
About Yvette:
Yvette Walker is the host of positivelyjoy.com, a multicultural, multiethnic podcast that takes a Christian look at the search for joy and light in all seasons of life. She is the Assistant Dean at Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication in Oklahoma.
Find Yvette and her podcast on social media: LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram.
Order her new devotional for more like this article, Whispering in His Ear: A Month of Joyful Conversations With God Bonus: 4 musical tracks (QR codes) and 3 Scripture translations and the NBLA in Spanish.
See Yvette’s guest post, Positively Finding Your Joy.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth) and Faith On Fire.
© 2022 Karen Friday, All rights reserved
My father just died of dementia in March. Caring for him was a trying time in our family over the course of the nine years that he suffered. My mother did most of the work, caring for him herself, until hospice came on board near the end. My sister who lived nearby helped daily. My husband and I flew in to help several times, staying for two to three weeks each time we came, so that everyone who was there most of the time could take some time to breathe. It was definitely a trial, and yet we knew that the Lord was superintending our circumstances, using the trial to refine us and to increase our selflessness. Dementia in the family is a test, a trial, and a growing experience.
“…we knew that the Lord was superintending our circumstances, using the trial to refine us and to increase our selflessness.” Melinda, this is insight from hearts who have walked through this illness. None of us choose the trials we face. But if we learn what the Lord wants us to learn, and glean spiritual truths, the experience makes us more like Jesus. Thanks for sharing your story and wisdom.
So great to meet you and see just a glimpse of your godly heart Ms. Yvette. Have followed you and will be looking to learn more about and from you in the future ma’am. Thanks for the intro Ms. Karen.
You’re welcome, J.D. Yvette has a wonderful podcast that I believe has won awards or been up for awards.
What an inspirational message! I am thankful for the opportunity to go to God in prayer in every moment. His love and peace bring true comfort. When I share time with the Father, I draw closer to Him.
Melissa, this entire devotional is inspiring in so many aspects of the Christian journey. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Such an inspirational message, Yvette! My father died of Alzheimer’s in 2014. Watching a loved one suffer with this disease is heartbreaking, but it did bring us closer as a family just as it has with yours. No matter what we are going through, we can’t stop praying, expecting that God will move those mountains in His time.
Blessings!
I remember reading the story of your father, Martha. Yes, we never stop praying and knowing that God himself will move the mountains. Thanks for sharing.
My father endured Alzheimer’s too. He maintained his cheerful demeanor for the most part. It was sad to see him decline from the mentor he had been to his children and grandchildren. God used Dad’s challenges to stretch us. His work is good although it is hard for us to see the good as we go through a trial. Great post!
“His work is good although it is hard for us to see the good as we go through a trial.” So true, Nancy. And the Lord does use these experiences to stretch us.
I also cared for a family member who was terminally ill from a variety of ailments, including dementia. I don’t know how people do this apart from the Lord’s equipping!
Ava, I like how you said, “I don’t know how people do this apart from the Lord’s equipping!” It takes care from the Lord to even be a caregiver.
Alzheimer’s has plagued my family, too. Oddly, I’ve also seen the beauty of it. My great-grandmother, consumed by anxiety and control issues, became carefree and childlike at the end of her days. I don’t want to experience Alzheimer’s myself and pray I never do. It’s stolen so much from families. BUT there’s beauty in ashes, too.
Beautifully said, Jessica. The disease does rob our human lives on this earth of so much. Yet, God uses ashes for His glory.
Both my dad and my father-in-law suffered from this dreadful affliction. But God empowered us to get through those days. Thanks for sharing
Our loving heavenly Father is that caring to equip and empower us for circumstances that come our way.
Thank you for your inspirational devotion. A needed reminder to go to prayer first! So much encouragement here.
Appreciate your comment, Deborah. It’s certainly ironic that we need reminding of the power of prayer to move mountains. Still, we sometimes go into fix-it mode, first.
Sounds like a fantastic book!
It is Lauren! Thoroughly enjoying it.
This is such an encouraging message for whatever we experience in life. God will move the obstacles – little by little – in His wisdom, grace, mercy and love. May I (we) trust Him as we go to Him in prayer and He works in our lives.
Agree, Joanne. God still moves mountains, even if we don’t see them or see them move, God will continue to make a way.
There is a lot of Alzheimer’s in my family as well, the closest relative being my mother who died with it. The mountain I need moved is my own fear of getting Alzheimer’s one day. I don’t want the fear to rob me of my joy in the Lord in the now.
Thanks for sharing your story here, Lisa. It is scary to think about what might come upon us. So thankful the Lord is in control and our peace.
Amen. Thank you for sharing Karen & Yvette. This devotional sounds wonderful. I will be looking this up. Easter brings us hope, may it linger in our hearts forever. wishing you a very Happy Easter. Blessings.
Visiting today from Inspire Me Monday #2
Paula, it is a great devotional. Thanks for leaving your thoughts.