God on the Mountain was written by Tracy Dartt in 1973. This song was in its hey-day in 1988 when it jumped to the top of the Gospel Music charts thanks to various gospel artists who made it a hit! The message of this song can move a heart or change a life for it shares the truth that God’s love for us is not dependent on our circumstances, nor does it change from the mountain to the valley.
In 2010, Don Dartt, son of this song’s author, produced a documentary entitled God on the Mountain Legacy where he tells his Dad’s story and connects it to the stories of the artists who made it popular. Through the process, Don discovered that many lives were changed by the message of hope that came clearly through this gospel song.
Not having seen the documentary, I cannot share the contents and stories that are contained therein. However, I can share my own thoughts including the peace and hope God on the Mountain continues to provide.
So, what exactly is this Mountain that God is on? This place where life is easy, where we have peace of mind, and all seems good and right? In my experience, when we are in this place, we tend to see a more panoramic view of all that is around us. We see His handiwork and rejoice in His creation and care for us. We find it easier to be still and listen for His voice. It is where we are and how we feel when our future seems bright and all seems right in our own little world.
Why can’t we just stay on this Mountain with God? Why must things change and go wrong? Why must we land in these valleys? These places of woe and despair where we become so easily swallowed by the darkness of the unknown. We are none too fond of tests and trials or tribulations and hard things.
In the book of Exodus, we read about Moses and how he went up to meet with God on the Mountain (literally) to receive instruction for the people. He came down from the cloud with the tablets (pun intended) only to return to a mess in the valley. To a people who, when they ran out of patience with waiting, fashioned their own god for worship. Thus, Moses returned from his incredible experience on the mountain, to a hard thing in the valley.
Contrary to popular belief, we don’t always get to choose our ‘hard’ or the valleys we land in. Sometimes they are just thrust upon us by others or by life. We live in a fallen world where we do life and life happens to all of us. Life is life. It can throw us curveballs, disrupting best laid plans by the unexpected. Often it takes only one quick decision on our part, one conflict, or one challenge, and we are off our game. For suddenly we have too many unanswered questions and everything just seems hard.
It doesn’t matter how much we rail at God or blame Him. We whine about our current circumstance, asking why does God let these things happen to me? I don’t personally believe God runs around making bad things happen to people. Rather, this is the stuff of life and living in a fallen world; of being part of and among a fallen people. We tend to see only the immediate and feel the pain and struggle. Like Job, we question God; and God, being God, responds with love and care and compassion for us as He continues to use every circumstance we find ourselves in to mold us more and more into His image – and into becoming the person He has created each of us to be.
Still, our God is the Redeemer. Here we learn that the God on the Mountain is indeed the God in the valley for He can redeem any valley we land in, whether by our own choices or at the hand of others. He is always there with us. Sometimes to take us in another direction as we learn to lean into Him through our struggle. Other times we learn to trust His heart and allow Him to shepherd our souls as He walks with us through what looks and feels like so much muck and mire.
And what about those times when our valleys can seem as big as mountains that need to be moved. It behooves us to remember that the prayer of faith, yes, a mere speck of faith, can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). But how does our God move these seemingly insurmountable “mountains of the valley?’’ Sometimes He merely lightens the load. He does this by walking with us through our sludge, our pain, our challenges. He promises to be with us and not let us drown. He will carry and support us when we can no longer carry our own selves and circumstances.
He is always there in the valley with us, His beloved. To walk with us through all that we are feeling and seeing, to guide us step by step and to remind us that He is our hope and restoration. That on the other side of this hard thing, we will again find ourselves on the mountain with God filled with gratitude and praise for His constant care for us!
But now, this is what the Lord says – He who created you … He who formed you … “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flames scorch you. For I AM the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3
GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN
Words & Music by Tracy Dartt (1973)
Life is easy, when you’re up on the mountain
And you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known.
But things change, when you’re down in the valley.
Don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone.
For the God on the mountain, is the God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.
We talk of faith way up on the mountain.
Talk comes so easy when life’s at its best.
Now down in the valleys, of trials and temptations
That’s where your faith, is really put to the test.
For the God on the mountain is the God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day, is still God in the night.
The God of the day, is still God in the night.
Sources: Internet: MusicNotes.com / TheChristianPost.com – Documentary Explores Legacy of Gospel Hit ‘God on The Mountain’ by Josephine Vivaldo / Amazon.com – God on the Mountain Legacy, Editorial Review