Are You Climbing or Doubting?
(June 23, 2025)
Sometimes you’ll find amazing theology in the most unusual places. For instance, do you remember the old Sunday School song, “Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain?” Here are the lyrics:
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain heavenly breezes blow.
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain faces all aglow.
Turn, turn from sin and doubting look to God on high.
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain, You and I.
The song is a wonderful metaphor for the Christian life. While there are plateaus and valleys on our road to the “Celestial City,” as John Bunyan puts it, overall, we believers are on a continual climb upward following the call of our Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:14).
During this climb we will encounter difficulties, obstacles, and roadblocks, however, those who learn to rejoice in the midst of them are the ones who make it to the top. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Do you want to be a person of strength? Learn to rejoice in the middle of adversity.
From a dark, damp, dirty prison in Rome, the Apostle Paul writes in Phil. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Outwardly Paul had little reason to rejoice. He was suffering in one of the worst prisons in Rome. His ministry seemed to have been put on hold by the Lord, most of his companions had deserted him, and he was alone.
But instead of doubting, complaining or quitting, Paul rejoices in the Lord. What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord? It means we thank God we belong to Christ no matter what. Our eternity is secure and in our time on earth the Father works all things for our good. What could be better than that? Will you rejoice in the Lord today? It’s your choice.