Everything Worthwhile is Uphill
- Jill Miller
- Aug 24, 2016
- 3 min read
Blog – 8-24-16 Everything Worthwhile is Uphill
I spent last week in Orlando at a John Maxwell training. My assistant, Kay, was certified, and I went to cheer her on and get inspired myself. Congratulations, Kay, on all the hard work you put into achieving this certification!
There were so many incredible teaching lessons last week that my mind felt literally ready to explode, like the commercial where the minds explode. I felt it!
One thing struck me especially hard, however. John mentioned over and over again that everything worthwhile is uphill.
If we want to make a difference in this world, if we want to reach our goals and dreams, if we want to better our lives and live out our true purpose, it’s going to be hard. It’s going to be uphill all the way. No one ever woke up on the top and said, “Hey, this is awesome! I’m on the top of my game! How did I get here?” They know exactly how they got there…lots of hard work.
It’s easy to find a tangible example of this principle right now with the Olympics. I have been moved to tears by their stories of obstacles they’ve overcome and the years of training and sacrifices they have made. I literally yelled at the TV watching the swimming and other events unfold. It was inspiring to witness their hard work bring them the gold. These determined athletes put everything else aside in order to climb the mountain to their dream.
Sure natural talent helped them along the way, but their drive and determination is what made the dream come true.
I’m sure every one of these extraordinary athletes would tell you that their journey to the Olympics was definitely uphill all the way.
The other important thing to remember is this uphill journey needs to continue every single day. The minute we don’t move forward, we can start slipping backwards. And we all know, going downhill goes much faster than pushing uphill. The downward slides we make can take us away from our goals very, very quickly.
So let me ask you, are you moving uphill, or have you given up on your dreams because you have felt the journey is too long, too hard? Are you consciously moving forward, or by your lack of intentionality are you staying put, or worse yet, sliding downhill?
I’ve been wrestling with these questions myself. They’re hard. They’re complex. They’re unsettling at times to answer. I’ve realized that I need to be more intentional in my life. Worrying about something and taking action about that something are two entirely different things. Coming up with a great plan and executing that plan are two entirely different things.
Follow through and execution is where the journey uphill begins.
The Good News for us as Christians is that God is right there on our journey with us, rejoicing with every step forward we take. We can cling to scripture which tells us:
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
I want to encourage you to keep going uphill. Don’t give up because things are taking longer than you hoped or the journey is harder than you dreamed. Bring others along on your journey to keep you motivated and moving forward, and never forget that God and His army of angels are cheering you on. Focus on how great you’re going to feel when you do get to the top.
And remember, everything worthwhile is uphill!
I look forward to seeing you at the top!
Hugs and love,
~Jill
Here’s a couple of pictures from last week!
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