Awesome God by Jane Reedy
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Last fall my husband and I spent a week at our friends’ house on the Juniata River. During the week we spent several days hiking the trails at some of the nearby state parks. One morning we drove a few miles down the road to hike A Thousand Steps. The steps were built in 1936 to transport workers to the top of Jack’s Mountain where they mined sand that was loaded onto train cars and transported to local factories where it was used to make silica bricks. The mines closed in the 1950s but the Friends of a Thousand Steps continue to maintain the area as a tribute to the miners. Today it is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
As we climbed I imagined the miners beginning each day carrying their tools, lunches and other items 850 feet up the side of the mountain to reach a job where they performed hard labor all day then had to hike back down the half mile of steps to go home to their families. The steps made the commute less difficult, but it was by no means easy.
Whenever we are outdoors, I feel closer to God and this glorious fall day was no exception. As we reached the top of the mountain we saw hawks soaring overhead. Trees with brilliantly colored red, yellow and orange leaves dotted the mountain sides and we could see the Juniata River snaking through the picturesque communities below. Our God is an awesome God.
After exploring the Standing Stone Trail that cuts through the mountain top we rested a few minutes before starting down. I thought again about the workers and how grateful I was that I didn’t have their grueling daily commute. But as we sat admiring God’s creation, I realized that while I may not have to climb a thousand steps every morning my days are filled with challenges – sometimes struggles seem like up-hill battles and others downhill spirals. Facing my challenges isn’t always easy but it’s a lot less difficult when I share my burdens with God. Our God is an awesome God.
Dear God, thank You for the workers who have come before us. Their labor and innovations have given us many of the conveniences we enjoy today. Even though we may struggle with personal challenges at work, home, school, health, family or other areas of our lives, it is comforting to know that You are always eager and willing to share our burdens. Amen