Tuesday, August 14, 2012

"Give Me This Mountain"

I don't like to interrupt rounds of "An Agent's Inbox," but the blogging bug bit me last night, and I couldn't hold this in. Besides, since so many of you are hanging around to see how the contest plays out, I figure I have a captive audience:) Hope you enjoy!

Not long after Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, he sent a small group of scouts to the land of Canaan to see what they could see. All but two of the scouts returned with the report that the Promised Land was crawling with giants and dotted with mighty fortresses that wouldn't easily fall. Caleb and Joshua's report was quite different--they believed that, God willing, they could conquer the Anakim and claim the land of Canaan for themselves--but the children of Israel sided with the other scouts. They wouldn't risk destruction. They would simply wait.

And wait they most certainly did. The children of Israel ended up wandering in the wilderness for the next forty years, waiting for that faithless generation to grow old and die.

Caleb and Joshua did grow old, but unlike their peers, they didn't die. The Lord preserved them so they could inhabit the land of Canaan and reap the rewards of their faithfulness. And even though Caleb was old, as he stood on the edge of the Promised Land, ready to assist in the final offensive against the mighty Anakim, he said, "Give me this mountain."

Give me this challenge.

Let me prove to myself and to my God how very much I want this.

As I read that story last night, I felt very much like Caleb, but on the edge of Publication. After all, I slugged it out in the query trenches for what felt like forty years. I wrote manuscript after manuscript after manuscript after manuscript. I survived. And yet, as I look back on where I've been, then at how far I have to go, it's just starting to dawn on me that the biggest battles are still ahead.

So I say with Caleb, "Give me this mountain!" If mine is not going to be one of those overnight success stories, so be it. I'll dig in and fight. I will not go gentle into that good night. I'll hang on. I'll climb.

25 comments:

Temre Beltz said...

Cheering for you, Krista! Can't wait to see the results of your awesome journey, and so thankful for all of us you are inspiring along the way.

A.J. Cattapan said...

Ditto!

Give me the mountain, Lord!

Thanks for the uplifting post, Krista! The way I figure it, the hard climb up the mountain will make the view from the top all the sweeter. :)

Kate Brauning said...

Wonderful encouragement. So appropriate. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

An excellent reminder for those of us waiting on the next step and a great source of inspiration. Thanks for sharing!

Michael G-G said...

Thanks for the inspiration! You will be given that mountain, I am sure of it.

G.B. Skye said...

What an uplifting post! This was a great inspiration to me, reading it this morning. Thanks for the boost!

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Thanks, Temre! Trust me, you guys inspire me way more than I inspire you.

So true, A.J. Victory tastes a little sweeter when you've had to slog through some defeat.

You're welcome, Kate. Thanks for commenting.

Michelle, it seems that no matter where we are along this road, there are always mountains ahead of and behind us. I wish I had realized that sooner. It reminds me of something I read (and blogged about) back in July, that we are always in the middle.

No doubt, Michael. God has this uncanny knack for giving us what we want--especially if the thing we want is going to be good for us:)

You're welcome, G.B. I'm so glad you got something out of it. Thanks for letting me know.

SStokes said...

This is a great post. Sometimes when things are easy they don't mean as much to us as the things we work hard to achieve. At least that's what I've been telling myself lately. :-)

AimeeLSalter said...

Inspiring and encouraging. I needed that today. Thank you!

Unknown said...

This is the stuff of life. Thanks for a very timely and encouraging word!

Lynne Matson said...

You'll make it Krista! :) *rooting for you* :)

((hugs))

Robin said...

I'm so glad you posted this Krista. I believe in you. You've held on "in the wilderness" and even though you've entered the next challenge, you will make it.

Thank you for posting!

Anonymous said...

Amen to that, sister. Amen to that.

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Thanks, SStokes. And I totally agree with you--things we work hard for mean more than things that come easy.

I needed it today, too, Aimee. Good luck tomorrow!

You're so welcome, Raewyn. Thanks for commenting.

You're so sweet, Lynne. I appreciate that vote of confidence:)

Oh, what a nice thing to say, Robin. Your comments have made my day a few times now...

Jade said...

As a fellow Christian, I really appreciate this! I support a lot of my goals with my faith, and this is a good reminder that you have to work for your reward.

Unknown said...

I think this is going to be my new motto. Kinda the bible version of bring it on ;) If Caleb and Joshua could last fourty years, I can last four or more :)

Nazarea Andrews said...

Thanks for sharing this--it's a great truth. The verse I hang on to when I'm feeling depressed about the writing journey is Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.'
I might not know where this crazy journey is going, but He does, and that makes it easier to face.

CallMeKarma said...

As someone at the very beginning of the process, I appreciated this post. Always good to have the reminder that it's a long haul, and not to give up. Thanks!

Carmen said...

Beautiful post, Krista. Simply beautiful!

Delia said...

Great post and a wonderful attitude to have. See you on the climb. :)

Amy said...

Krista:

Are you reading my mind? Your post was perfect timing as I was having a very "off" writing day yesterday.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It's good to know I'm not the only one out there trying to climb that "impossible" mountain too!

Krista Van Dolzer said...

So true, Jade. God doesn't do anything for us that we can do for ourselves.

Perfect, Julia. If Caleb had been alive now, I'm sure he would have said, "Bring it on!" :)

Great scripture, Nazarea. Thanks for sharing.

Well, Karma, if you're still at the beginning, maybe it won't be a long journey for you; it's hard to say from the outset:) But no matter how long or short it is, I wish you the very best of luck.

Thanks, Carmen!

Yes, Delia, I'm sure we'll see each other. Could you bring me a juice box on your way up? :)

Glad it helped, Amy. It helped me, too:)

Traci Kenworth said...

I feel the same!!

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Glad I'm not the only one, Tracy:)

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Tangynt, just rescued your comment from the spam folder! Thanks for reading (and commenting!).