Fall arrived in the Bitterroot Mountains, catching us by surprise as nighttime temperatures dipped into the chilly 40s and the leaves began turning gorgeous shades of red and orange.
It was the perfect inspiration to haul 13 boxes of fall decorations up from the basement. This annual ritual means other décor gets tucked away temporarily while pumpkins, garlands, and a plethora of reds and oranges take center stage, along with a turkey or two reminding us to give thanks.
But I stopped in the kitchen as I reached for a blue sign. Its color didn't match the fall decorations, but I stood there holding it close, my heart racing back three years.
I had purchased the sign, which read, “Faith Can Move Mountains,” while praying all summer for a miracle—that God would spare my son Cody's life.
Sometimes, when we're surrounded by uncertainty and the answers seem beyond our reach, all we can do is fall to our knees and pray.
The apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
And the promise in verse 7 follows: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Throughout the summer, we praised God as we prayed for the miracle we so desperately hoped for. Day after day, I would look at the simple blue sign, clinging to my faith even when the outcome remained uncertain.
The group MercyMe captures this struggle beautifully in their song “Even If.” The lyrics remind us while a little faith can move mountains, some mountains remain unmovable. In those moments, we need God to give us the strength to keep singing, “It is well with my soul.”
Then, just as I stood there lost in those memories, a phone call from Cody brought me back to the present.
“Mom, I got the job closer to home—two hours each way closer!”
Our excitement was mutual. This time we'd been praying for a different miracle, and this wonderful news felt like another answer to prayer.
As I hung up, still cradling the blue sign in my hands, I found a special place for it among the fall decorations. It may not have matched the pumpkins and autumn leaves, but it belonged there.
It was a reminder of the prayers, the tears, the hope, and the faith that had carried me through some of my darkest days.
Once again, I thanked God for His goodness. I whispered the words my heart had learned to hold close: “My hope is You alone, and it is well with my soul.”
Sometimes God moves the mountain. Sometimes He gives us the strength to stand before it. And sometimes, in the middle of our unanswered prayers, He gives us a peace we cannot explain.
Whatever mountain you're facing today, may you remember you don't have to move it yourself. You can bring it to God, trust Him with the outcome, and rest in the knowledge your hope is in Him.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being our refuge when life feels uncertain and for hearing every prayer whispered through tears.
This Thanksgiving time, when the mountains before us seem impossible to move, strengthen our faith and help us trust You with what we cannot control. Teach us to praise You not only when miracles come, but also when we must wait and trust Your heart. May Your peace guard our hearts and minds, reminding us our hope rests in You alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.
