Mountaintop Experience?

A couple of months ago I heard Pastor Steven Furtick say that he has not read his book since he wrote and edited it. I didn’t understand until recently. I vaguely remember writing about the following experience in my book, but now I think I missed the boat. I wrote about a mountaintop experience I had one morning after an awesome time of praise and worship in my home. I had been studying my Bible daily for an hour, but Saturdays were a three hour time of prayer and devotion. I had been battling depression for awhile, and between August and May I saw a lot of progress. On this particular Saturday I walked out of the front door, and I felt my face shining like Moses’ face shone after he met with God on Mount Sinai. I can’t remember having another experience like that, and that is the point of this blog. I mistakenly thought that that one experience meant I had arrived and that trouble would no longer come my way. That was the less spiritually mature Angie. Readers, I don’t know what kind of experiences you have had with God, but I have a few concerns. 1) For people who grew up in church like me, we weren’t always told that troubles would come to our door. So when I experienced life’s troubles I was devastated and confused. Surely this doesn’t happen to Bible believing Christians? 2) For people who didn’t grow up in church, they might have a perception that people in church don’t have problems. Another falsehood. Even worse if nonchurchgoers see church goers struggling, they may be hesitant to build upon their own struggling faith. Where do I start? As tough as life has been for me, my struggles truly have built my faith. I never understood when pastors said that would happen, but they are right. I had a crisis with my son in 8th grade, and I remember shaking in my kitchen. I had a crisis recently with my son now that he’s 24, but this time I didn’t shake. I was pacing the floor, but I distinctly heard God tell me that He had me and that He had my son. I would love to tell you that once you reach the mountain, you will remain there; but that isn’t true. What I can tell you is that as various trials come, each experience WILL build your faith making you feel closer and closer to God with each victory. Remember, at the end of the Book we WIN. Keep the faith.