Living Beyond the Mountain

“Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched Jesus’s appearance was transformed” – Mark 9:2

We’ve all experienced “mountain top moments,” right? When everything seems clear, God appears close, and life feels extraordinary. Our students feel this every year at our summer camp called RUSH. In your life, perhaps it was during a retreat, a moving worship service, or an answered prayer that left you speechless. In those moments, it’s easy to want to stay there—away from the world’s noise and struggles.

But here’s the thing: God never allowed the 3 disciples to stay on the mountain during the transfiguration, and he won’t let you stay on it either. Why? Because the true test of our faith is not how high we can climb, but how well we descend and live in the valleys, the ordinary places of life. We are not just made for the beautiful sunrises, experiences, or mountaintop feelings in life. They are supposed to inspire us to go down and “Lift up the people in darkness” in the valley’s of ordinary life.

In Mark 9:14-18, following Jesus’ glorious transfiguration on the mountain, He returned to a crowd where a father begged Him to release his son from a demon. As soon as the four (Jesus, John, James, Peter) descended from the mountain, they were swamped with work. In our lives, as soon as we experience a spiritual high, the enemy attempts to kill it and our inner being is put to the test. It is up to us to use that inspiration to prepare for the difficult work ahead, just as Jesus did.

In essence, God calls us to live our faith even in the midst of chaos, struggles, and mundane routines. That is where we demonstrate our strength, character, and trust in Him.

But, let’s be honest, our hearts long for the mountain. We whisper, “If I could just stay in that holy moment, I’d never doubt, never struggle, never fail.” However, that desire can lead to spiritual selfishness. Those moments aren’t meant to keep us comfortable; they’re supposed to change us. The mountaintop experience is about who we become, not what we learn.

So, instead of asking, “What is the point of this experience?” ask: “How is God shaping me through this?” The mountaintop is not an escape; rather, it is a preparation. And the valley? That is where God’s purpose unfolds.