OBSTACLES, THERE THEY ARE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, AND THEY CAN AND MUST BE OVERCOME — Part 1

The View From Above: Thoughts To Help With Everyday Life

October 26, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

OBSTACLES, THERE THEY ARE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, AND THEY CAN AND MUST BE OVERCOME — Part 1

The presence of obstacles is a test of our FAITH.

When we are under the shadow of a mountain, and its shadow is looming large and very intimidating, what are you going to do?

Face it and rise in faith and move it…or avoid and ignore it?

When you’re facing a giant in the middle of the battlefield of life, what are you going to do?

Run toward the giant as David (1 Samuel 17) did, or cower in fear in a safe place like the rest of the army of Israel did?

All of us, there are no exceptions, will be challenged in life to move mountains and slay giants.

Those are two metaphors the Bible uses to illustrate the obstacles we face and what can be done about them.

Mountains, your mountain, the one you are facing right now, can be moved.

The giant that is waiting for you to do battle and has every intention of defeating you can be slain.

There is victory and a future for you on the other side of every mountain and giant that you face.

Their presence is a test of our faith.

One day, a man brought his epileptic son to Jesus’ disciples so they could pray for him; they did, to no avail.

Jesus prayed for him, and he was healed.

The disciples wondered about this and asked Jesus, “How come? Why could we not get him healed?”

Then comes the rebuke; Jesus said to His disciples:

Matthew 17:17

“…O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”

They prayed and tried to move a mountain with no real faith.

They weren’t really believing that this could be done.

Prayer without faith becomes useless when you’re trying to move a mountain.

Matthew 17:19–21

“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’

So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’”

What mountain might you be facing at this season of your life?

Mountains occur in our marriages, with our children; they appear, seemingly out of nowhere, in our circumstances, with finances or sickness…any number of ways mountains can loom large.

So, the answer?

Start praying with faith and move them.

It doesn’t say they are going to disappear…it says they are going to be moved, moved out of the way so that you can advance, move forward, and get to the destiny that God has for you on the other side of the mountain.

The challenge is for us to put what Jesus said into practice.

As you stand in the shadow of an intimidating mountain, ALLOW YOUR FAITH TO GROW, so that it becomes larger and greater than the mountain you are facing.

There is nothing too hard for God to help you overcome if you will, by faith, face your mountain with confidence.

Don’t let your mountain overwhelm you with fear and intimidation.

Mountains shrink and become movable in the face of our growing faith!