Our Advocate and Our Mountain

I’m in a difficult situation. I have a mountain that I desperately want to throw into the sea. But I can’t take my eyes off the vastness of its height. I’ve asked 5 people to pray about this mountain with me because I know that Jesus has promised us that where two or more gather in His Name, He will be present and that we can agree to things on earth and they will be agreed in heaven. I have put on the armour of God and asked for wisdom. I have sought with tears, words of encouragement in His Word.

But I still can’t take my eyes off the mountain.  And because of that, my plan changes from seeking God’s will to using my knowledge and skills, leaning on my understanding, reaching out to experts who know more than I; people in power that can intimidate the mountain and cause it to crumble. But His still, small voice says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.’ Zechariah 4:6. I’m having to learn to wait.

I remember the initial position of warfare and kneel before the Lord, face to the floor. I thank Him that I can come. That Jesus has made a way. At any time, in any place I can come to the One who forms the mountains, existed before they did and can make them low. I tell God of my fears and ask Him if there’s anything offensive in my heart that’s enabling this mountain to stay strong and ask that He leads me in the way I should go (Psalm 139:23-24). I praise and thank Him for His love and that He sees the whole picture.

I find peace once I’ve told Him. The sort of peace a child finds when they’ve cast their cares on their parents who can deal with it now. I can now focus on some minor surgery I’m about to have. I sit in the waiting room reading The Word for Today. This is what it says, ‘You will conquer your Jericho.’ It reminds me Joshua didn’t bring down the walls of Jericho, God did. If our ‘Jericho (or mountain)’ keeps us from joy, peace and rest; it must come down. God drove out the previous tenants and allowed the Israelites to possess the land. This may not seem like much of a revelation, but my mountain is so specifically and literally related to these words that I am filled with joy that God is directly speaking encouragement into my situation.

 A woman comes up to me and tells me she’s a Christian too, that it’s good to see someone reading a devotional. I share that I’ve prayed for us all going into theatre today and I share my fresh testimony of answered prayer through what I’ve just read. Not only am I filled with joy as I wait for surgery but I’m able to be a non-anxious presence to others waiting too. I leave the theatre team with The Blessing (Numbers 6:24).

A few weeks later my mountain comes back bigger than ever and the outcome is bleak. I shift my focus from God to the mountain, to myself, then back to God. I’m like a wave tossed about by the wind. I speak fear instead of faith. My stomach churns every time I wring my hands before the Lord crying out that I’ve no faith in the help I have on earth to deal with my mountain.

God reminds me in prayer that there is a court in heaven. God is the Judge and Jesus is my Advocate. That the One who gave His life for me is not going to let the rising waters reach me. He ‘will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.’(Psalm 32:6-8) Ha! Imagine that. He will sing as He rescues me! This causes me to sing, praise, relax and trust once more. My eyes are no longer on the mountain but on the One above it. I may feel overwhelmed but because of His love for me I am not consumed (Lamentations 3:22). I am comforted to know that the Spirit of Truth answers me when I cry out, that my Advocate has already promised to bring down this mountain. My faith may be as small as a mustard seed but this mountain will be thrown into the sea to God’s glory- however that may look. Amen.

- Jesse Kaur