Steeper and Deeper

Climbing Mountains that Heal

*When the Going Gets Steep, The Climbers Go Deep

Steeper and Deeper

Are you climbing any mountains these days?

Maybe it’s one you chose—a bold adventure of faith. Or maybe it’s one that chose you, born from loss, illness, caregiving, or life’s relentless weight.

Mountaintops get all the glory: sweeping views, the thrill of the summit, the sense that God is near and heaven is only a breath away.

But the climb? That’s where the real work—and the real faith—happens.

Sometimes we fall on the trail, scrape knees and knuckles on the rocks. Sometimes we wonder if the path is even worth it. Sometimes the next foothold is pure grit and grace.

If you’re climbing something steep right now, you’ll need some serious spiritual gear:

• A helmet of salvation—because this climb is a battle for the mind.

• A carabiner of trust—clipped tightly to the Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

• A rope of hope—Scripture promises to hold onto when everything else unravels.

• Prayer “rest stops” and worship “fuel stations” to renew your soul mid-climb.

• And amazing friends, mentors, and counselors—who “spot” you with prayer, encouragement, or just a listening ear.

**Carabiner of trust, rope of hope!

My Current Climb

Lately, I’ve been climbing my own little mountain. It’s not Everest, but it’s steep enough to leave me breathless some days.

I’ve committed this year to writing my personal story. Not for pity, not to dwell in the dark, but to declare God’s glory. He made it clear: This is my year to finish it.

It’s the story of how Jesus pulled me out of a deep, dark pit of depression, despair, and dissociative identity disorder in my twenties.

***If only writing were always this lovely!

But writing it? That’s the hard part. Dredging up painful memories I’ve buried deep. Editing chapters that reopen old wounds. Wrestling with scenes I’d rather forget.

This week, after working on a particularly raw section, a forgotten memory came crashing back. Vivid. Full-color. Uninvited. It kept me up all night.

I had buried it so I wouldn’t have to think about it. But I must face it to heal.

And maybe you’re facing some hidden hurts, too.

When the Climb Gets Steep, Go Deep

When the trail gets rugged, we can’t stop. As I’m always reminding you, we go deeper.

Because Jesus is real and invites us to enter in…

• Deeper into the Word.

• Deeper into His promises.

• Deeper into prayer.

• Deeper into His presence and goodness.

Carrying old baggage up a mountain is exhausting. But confronting it—naming it, releasing it, offering it to God is where the healing starts.

It’s healing me.

And someday, I pray, my story will bring healing to others who carry the same scars.

So, if your path is steep right now, don’t give up.

Go deeper.

And remember—Jesus is climbing with you.

What About You?

What mountain are you climbing right now?

Where do you need to go deeper, not steeper?

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share in the comments or forward this to a friend who’s on a difficult climb.

Let’s keep climbing—together.

p.s. This is also why I facilitate a “Your Story Matters” group through my church. I’ve witnessed the healing that happens when we write out our hard stories. :)

Coming Up...

As I processed some of the remembered trauma this week, I ended up writing a letter to my perpetrator (in my case, not a family member, but a family friend from my youth).

And since I figure I can’t be the only one dealing with a perpetrator from the past, and/or thinking about these issues, I’m going to share it in my next post.

Weekly Worship:

My writing theme song!

—”My Story, Your Glory” by Matthew West

(I love this video—how at the end, he has collected so many stories for God’s glory!)

*Photo by Samantha Sophia on Unsplash

**Photo by Sandra Grunewald on Unsplash

***Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash