Dear Church Family,

Last weekend, I had the joy of traveling to Nashville to celebrate my son’s graduation from Vanderbilt Law School. We rented a townhouse for the occasion—beautiful, modern, and perfectly situated with stunning views of the Nashville skyline. But there was a catch: the living room and the balcony, the heart of the home, were perched four long flights of stairs above street level.

Let me tell you—those stairs tested me. Every bag of groceries, every suitcase, every cooler full of snacks had to be hauled up step by step. My legs ached, my breath was short, and more than once I questioned my decision-making. But each time I reached the top, and especially when I stepped out onto that balcony to take in the city lights, I was reminded: the climb was worth it.

Isn’t life like that sometimes?

There are seasons when we feel like we’re on a relentless uphill journey. Whether it’s parenting, caring for aging parents, facing health battles, or simply pressing on through the daily grind, it can feel like we’re hauling weight up endless stairs. And yet—God meets us in the climb.

The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9, ESV). The view may not always be visible in the moment, but it is coming. The beauty and rest and fellowship waiting at the top make every aching step worthwhile.

Even Jesus knew the steep path. Hebrews tells us, “For the joy that was set before him [He] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV). He climbed the hardest hill so we could stand in grace.

So if your legs are tired, your arms full, and your soul weary—take heart. Keep climbing. There’s something beautiful ahead. The view is coming. And more importantly, so is the joy and presence of Christ at the summit, but never forget that He is also with us on the stairs.

Loving you all, 

Michael