Lessons from Shenandoah: STEP UP

June 25, 2025

My family and I have long loved escaping to the Shenandoah Mountains. Every summer, for years now, we’ve loaded up our camper and made our way to the ridges above Luray, Virginia, spending a week or more immersed in the quiet beauty of the highlands.

At Big Meadows, we set up camp and settle into a rhythm—watching deer, skunks, and even the occasional bear wander through our site. Each morning after breakfast, we lace up our boots and set out along the trails that wind through Skyline Drive. Many of these hikes are challenging—Mary’s Rock, Bearfence, Lewis Falls, Old Rag, Chimney Rock—each one leading us higher and higher, often requiring us to scramble over rocks and ledges just to reach the top and take in the view.

Often, I find myself at the back of the group, out of breath and out of shape, wondering if I’ll be able to make it. But I’ve learned that if I stop—if I give up before reaching the summit—I’ll miss the blessing waiting at the top: the view of the valley below, the thunder of waterfalls crashing into the gorge, and the unmistakable sense of God’s presence amid His creation. His majesty and power are revealed in every tree, every rock, every sweeping vista. And I realize—I can’t stay where I am and still experience all that the mountain, and God, have to offer.

So, I focus on the next step. Just one more rock, one more ridge, one more bend in the trail. I keep moving forward, stepping up, again and again. And before I know it, I’m standing at the top, gazing out over the vastness below, hearing the water rush, feeling the wind, and sensing the nearness of God. In those moments, I see His face in the work of His hands.

It was on top of Mount Sinai that God spoke to Moses. We read in Exodus 19:3-6, “Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain…” Elijah met God on top of Mount Horeb.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

 -I Kings 19:11-13

The disciples had a remarkable encounter with Jesus during the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

-Matthew 17:1-7

Jesus invites us to walk with Him up the mountain, to “step up” onto the mountaintop and into the presence of God.

Before we do anything else, we must “step up” into God’s presence. Isn’t this the lesson Jesus taught Martha?

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

-Luke 10: 38-42

“But ONE THING is needed, and Mary HAS CHOSEN that good part.”

Jesus told us, in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

I often wonder how many times James reflected on that extraordinary moment atop the mountain with Peter and John, standing in the presence of the transfigured Jesus. Did the memory of that divine encounter echo in his heart throughout his life? As he recalled the glory, the voice from heaven, and the countless miracles and teachings he had witnessed, did those moments shape the words he would one day write?

Perhaps it was those very memories—those glimpses of God's majesty and nearness—that stirred within him when he penned one of the greatest invitations ever given:

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

-James 4:8

What a promise—spoken by someone who had seen the glory of God and knew the power of His presence.

John Bevere, in his book, Drawing Near, writes, “Stop a moment and ponder this: the Creator of the universe, the earth, and all its inhabitants, requests your presence. Not only your presence, but He desires to be intimately close, for we are told (Exodus 34:14) “He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.””

Jesus paid a huge price to pave the way for you to have a personal relationship, a close relationship with God. “However,” as Bevere writes, “this reunion of God and man has not been preached nor experienced in its fullest extent. We’ve emphasized the liberation from sin and death [salvation] but neglected to declare the intimate fellowship awaiting all who’ve been made free. This neglect is costly, and even disastrous, as so many miss the beauty of knowing God intimately.”

God wants you to climb up the mountain, to climb into His presence. God wants you to “step up.”

It is only by “stepping up” that we experience God, that we draw close to Him, that we begin to know Him, whether it is in a thunderclap, a still, small whisper, or a moment of dazzling light.

Bevere writes, “Many have settled for the intellectual knowledge of belonging without ever pursuing the reality of interaction with Him in the moment. So deeply embedded is the concept of salvation that few go any further. They’ve said their prayers and will one day die and go to be with Him. Yet, the reality of Christ is missed, and the powerful revelation of God’s desire to walk with us is lost. It is not a one time or far away experience, but His real desire is abiding communion.”

In other words, God wills that we should “Step Up” into His presence.

Bruce Wilkinson tells the story of a man who arrives in heaven and, as he takes in the wonder of it all, notices a vast warehouse nearby. Curious, he steps inside and is stunned to see row upon row of shelves stretching endlessly in every direction. Each shelf is lined with beautifully wrapped boxes—each one tied with a ribbon and bearing a name.

Turning to Peter, the man asks, “Do I have a box here?”

Peter replies, “You do. But if I were you, I wouldn’t open it.”

Unable to resist, the man finds the box with his name on it and slowly opens it. Inside, he discovers all the blessings, opportunities, and gifts God had prepared for him—but he had never received them. He hadn’t asked, hadn’t pursued, hadn’t believed. The box held what could have been—what God longed to give—but that he had left unopened.

Bevere writes, “The baffling question is: Why do so many believers have a shallow relationship with God? Why don’t they delve into a deeper, more consistent relationship with Him? What holds them back? What would ignite and cause them to respond to His call to draw near?

The answer is not complex: it’s our hunger and thirst to know Him. David cried out, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.””

“Why do so many believers have a shallow relationship with God?” One answer can be found in Proverbs 27:7 reads, “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb.”

In other words, as Bevere writes, “If your soul is filled with cares, pleasures, the love of riches, or the desires of this world, you’ll be full and actually despise the sweet honeycomb of God’s fellowship…”

We must be intentional about “stepping up” into God’s presence, climbing the mountaintop and spending time with God or we will find ourselves staying below, surrounded and satisfied with the things of this world, satisfied with “stepping around.”

Understand this: you and I will hunger for whatever we continually feed ourselves. If we feed on chocolate, we’ll crave more sweets. If we feed on sports, we’ll be glued to ESPN. If we feed on movies, we’ll eagerly anticipate the next blockbuster. If we feed on hunting, we’ll gladly rise at 4 a.m. to sit in the cold for a single shot. If we feed on cars, we’ll find ourselves talking shop with anyone who will listen. If we feed on money, our minds will constantly revolve around earning, saving, or spending it. And if we feed on material things, we’ll always be chasing the next opportunity to buy more.

I am sure many of you can relate. I know I can. I so often feed on things of this world filling my life with movies, books, vacations, hunting, money. The list goes on-and-on. In doing so, time with God gets pushed aside. God is no longer the priority.

When we feed on the things of God, our hunger for Him grows deeper and more constant. I’ve found that the seasons in my life when I drew closest to Him were those filled with intentional pursuit—being part of a small group, diving into daily Scripture study, gathering with others to pray and reflect, or participating in studies like Disciple Bible Study, Experiencing God, or going on an Emmaus weekend. In those times, I encountered God in a more intimate way—sensed His presence more clearly, experienced His guidance more personally. Looking back, I can point to those moments as mountaintop experiences—sacred times when I truly felt the nearness of God.

Charles Stanley offers three practical steps for “stepping up” and spending time on the mountaintop with God.

First, Stanley tells us to Schedule Time with God.

How many times have you told someone, “Hey, let’s get together” only to never follow through. When one is serious about getting together with someone, you make an appointment. Each night when you go to bed decide on a time and place to be alone with God the next day, a time and place to refuel. Write it down in your planner, on your calendar. Make a note and then follow through.

Secondly, Stanley tells us to Choose a Place Where the Only Thing You Do There is Meet With God.

This spot will take on special significance and being there will affect your mood and ability to concentrate.

Lastly, Use A Variety of Methods.

Stanley suggests a devotional book. When that becomes stale, journal your thoughts and prayers. If you are on a Bible reading plan taking you through the scriptures, switch it up one day and focus on one book of the Bible. Stanley writes, “This is a relationship. Look for ways to keep it fresh.”

One person I read, Kenneth Boa pulls no punches in stating that it is “absurd to think that we could excel at any sport such as golf or tennis without investing the needed time, training, and practice. But when it comes to living the Christian life, we suppose that we are doing well if we attend church and open a Bible once or twice a week. If believers expended the same time and energy cultivating their spiritual lives as they are willing to invest in becoming reasonably skillful at any sport or hobby, the world would look with wonder at the power of the body of Christ. We desire to know Christ more deeply, but we shun the lifestyle that would make it happen.”

We cannot truly experience the mountaintop, come into the presence of God, without climbing, without “stepping up.” We must make a commitment to climb into His presence.

Commit to “step up” out of the everyday and the world that surrounds you into God’s light. Commit to sitting down with your Heavenly Father each day and allow Him to fill you, to quench your thirst.

What will God do? God will, as Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “… fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

What will God do? God will, as spoken through the prophet in Isaiah 40, “give power to the weak and strength to the powerless” …will “…renew their strength” and cause them to “…soar on wings like eagles…run and not grow weary…walk and not be faint.”

What will God do? God will, a Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, “… supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

One lesson drawn from the wilderness and mountaintops of Shenandoah. “Draw near to God” …STEP UP…”and He will draw near to you.”