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It was cold.

The kind of cold that caused your ears to go tingly numb in a matter of minutes and the skin of your lips to become dry and cracked; a sort of erosion on the human body.

I looked up…and ahead. My wife and I were almost at the peak of the mountain. A mountain peak that was certainly living up to its name, “The Rockies”. Large rocks pierced the earth around us, colored in black, grey, and white mixes. In other places, multiple boulders the size of cars and trucks sat in piles on top of each other. Their surfaces were cold to the touch and unforgiving in pain if you were to suddenly slip and slam your knees against them. I looked at these rock formations and wondered if perhaps God Himself had piled them there. Wasn’t that possible? Doesn’t God’s word make that thought possible?

“With His hands He made the dry land – every valley and mountain.”

--Psalm 95:5 (VOICE)

I smiled at my thought and continued the hike ahead.

As we reached the peak we took in its rocky appearance and eagerly climbed up the stone surface. The wind blasted our faces with cold vigor, leaving light burns of red on our noses and cheeks. It also tested our abilities to keep our bodies balanced. With each surge of fresh, frigid breeze, we both would grab tightly to the rocks around us, careful not to fall. At an elevation of over 12,000 feet, the air was thin and painful to take into our lungs too deeply. We had to learn how to regulate our breathing into shallow inhales of relief instead of big greedy ones.

When we finally reached the top of the peak, I found my eyes were overwhelmed with the beautiful landscape before me. There were mountains as far as the eye could see. Each one covered with rock of course, but also beautiful tall trees. Trees that seemed to stand with pride and unimaginable strength. Pine, Spruce, Douglas-fir, Cottonwood, and Quaking Aspen, all flowed with the direction of the invisible wind. Their colors were dull and vibrant at the same time. The deep greens of the Pines as well as the bright yellows and reds of the Aspens as they changed color amongst the Fall season.

“Within His control are the very depths of the earth; the mountaintops too – they all belong to Him.”

--Psalm 95:4 (VOICE)

When you see this unbelievable creation, YOU KNOW THIS VERSE IS TRUE.

I stood on top of that mountain, a mere ant amongst the giants of His creation, and I knew that none of it was possible without God. There was no inkling thought in my head that everything I was seeing just somehow happened by accident. Instead, there was the certainly that such breathtaking creation had to have a creator…one that was good enough to allow my unworthy soul there in that moment.

While Courtney and I hiked the mountains of Colorado, we learned that hundreds of years ago, Indians would hike those same mountains during the warm months with one thought in mind…they wanted to be as close to their gods as they could.

As I stood in some of the same places those precious folks did so many years ago, I could understand their sentiment and desire. I also stood with gratitude knowing that the same God that created the mountains, also created the valleys below.

God is omniscient and omnipresent.

In other words, He is present everywhere at the same time.

No matter where we are in life…from the highest of heights to the valley below; God is as close to us as our own skin.

How blessed are we to be created and loved by such a creator?

Who else has cared so much, and done so much, to be so close?

The mountaintop view I was on, was worth the effort of the hike and the bite of the cold weather…I’ll never forget that view from on top of the world. But I take great courage and joy knowing that my God is with me every day no matter where I am.

As close as my own heartbeat.

Do you feel Him close to you?

He’s there. Right in your midst. Open your heart and let His presence begin to change your life.