5 March | Youth
«Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day. » Joshua 14:12
In the book More Than Mountains, Todd Huston tells his story of overcoming challenges and victories in the mountains of the United States. He is an example of faith and courage, because, despite having only one leg, he managed to climb fifty mountains.
At age 14, Huston lost his leg in a water-skiing accident. However, his physical disability did not prevent him from achieving high dreams. He wrote: “Man is not ready for adventure unless he frees himself from fear, for fear confines him and limits his aims.”
Todd set his sights on climbing the highest peak in each of the fifty states. He managed to climb all fifty peaks in 66 days, 22 hours, and 47 minutes, beating the previous world record of 101 days. He says that the most difficult climb was Mount McKinley, which is located in the Alaska Range, at almost 7,000 meters above sea level, considered the highest point in North America. The mountain remains continuously covered with a layer of snow and ice.
When being interviewed, he was asked: “How were you able to climb all those mountains?” Huston re-plied, “If you look at your afflictions or injuries and focus on them, you will live by them. If your focus is on the Lord, He will help you get through it all.”
In the Bible, we find a similar stance in the life of Caleb, one of the twelve men sent by Moses to spy on the land of Canaan. Even seeing giants and fortified cities, Caleb did not lose heart. At the age of eighty-five, he demonstrated complete trust in God when he said, “give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day” (Joshua 14:12). What impressive courage! Caleb was not afraid to “climb” the mountain, as he trusted in the protection of the greatest climber in the Universe.
Mountains or hills symbolize obstacles and difficulties that we face in life. Perhaps your “mountain” is a family problem, financial difficulty, shyness, or a particular temptation. Just as Huston and Caleb overcame the challenges, despite all their limitations, you can do it too. Do not be afraid! With faith and determination, you can reach further and rise above the clouds.