I Will Praise You on the Mountain and When the Mountain Is in the Way

I was listening to a song today, and a line that said, “I will praise You on the mountain top and when the mountain is in my way.” That hit my spirit because it describes the Christian life so well. There are days when the view is clear and the blessing is obvious, and praise flows easily. Then there are days when the mountain stands in front of you and refuses to budge, and praise has to become a choice instead of a reaction.

Both moments matter. Both moments shape us. And Scripture speaks directly to each one.

Praise on the Mountain

When life is good and prayers are being answered, the heart naturally lifts in worship. David understood this when he wrote in Psalm 18:1 to 3:

"I love You, O Yahweh, my strength. Yahweh is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies."

Victories remind us that God is faithful. Every high place in life is a testimony that He has carried us, strengthened us, and provided for us. Praise on the mountaintop is the overflow of a grateful heart.

Praise When the Mountain Is in the Way

But the line from that song speaks to a deeper truth. Sometimes the mountain does not move. Sometimes the hardship lingers. Sometimes the prayer is not answered the way we expected. And that is where real faith is refined.

Psalm 23:4 says:

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

David praised God not because the valley felt pleasant, but because God was present. That is the heart of worship in hardship. It is not built on feelings. It is built on truth.

Jesus said in Mark 11:22 to 23:

"Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him."

There are times when God moves the mountain. There are times when He strengthens us to climb it. There are times when He walks with us while it stands unshaken. Whichever way He chooses, He is still worthy of praise.

Paul and Silas model this beautifully in Acts 16:25:

"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."

They did not wait for the miracle. They praised in the middle of the chains. And God showed up.

Praise Is Trust

Praising God while staring at a mountain that refuses to move is a declaration of trust. It says, “Father, even here, You are good. Even here, You are faithful.” Habakkuk understood this kind of faith in Habakkuk 3:17 to 18:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no produce on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in Yahweh. I will rejoice in the God of my salvation."

This is the praise that shakes hell and strengthens the soul. It is a declaration that circumstances do not determine God’s worth.

Your Mountain Does Not Have the Final Word

Whatever mountain stands in your path today, it does not get to write the final chapter. God does. Whether He moves it, climbs it with you, or transforms you through it, His faithfulness remains the same.

So praise Him on the mountain. Praise Him when the mountain is in the way. Praise Him when it moves. Praise Him when it will not. Because praise is not about where you stand. It is about who He is.

And He is always worthy.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Jody