5-14-2026
In 2009, pop singer Miley Cyrus recorded a country pop power ballad that incorporates soft rock and pop rock styles for the Hanna Montana movie. The song was titled, “The Climb”. Perhaps you’ve heard the song, perhaps not. It immediately became popular and still gets air time on the radio. But, and I hate to tell you this, Miley was wrong.
It’s not just the climb.
It’s the grind.
It’s the getting up while other people are sleeping.
It’s the walking by your TV and not letting it suck you in to find out who got the rose. It’s the ignoring what you’d like to do because what you love to do needs your time.
It’s sucker punching Monday morning and starting your day before fear has a chance to find you. It’s the swallowing your pride and playing the concert to nobody but the waitress. It’s the filling out all the annoying paperwork it takes to turn your dream into a business.
It’s the 2,000 text messages.
It’s the asking people for help even though you’d like to pretend you’re too strong to need it. It’s the realization that the scale isn’t your boss, it’s a tool. And if you didn’t hit your weight goal today, you’ll get back on the bike, back on the run, back on the steps, and hit it tomorrow.
It’s losing the client, losing the job, losing the opportunity, and realizing you didn’t lose your identity.
It’s getting back up.
It’s the 4 AM alarm clock to catch a shuttle to the airport. It’s the measuring your success against your own actions, not the accomplishments of others. It’s the remembering that hard work still beats 100% of the shortcuts everyone else thinks social media offers.
It’s the being willing to fail.
And fail.
And fail.
And fail.
And get better. Slower than you’d like. In increments smaller than you’d like, but better is better. It’s the not being ashamed of your success or apologizing for the wins, but having the courage to celebrate them without stumbling into the land of arrogance. It’s starting all over again every time the sun does.
It’s being patient in the waiting, and remembering God’s promises to take care of your every need. It’s the realization the God’s mercies are new every morning, and His grace is freely given. It’s thanking God for the bad times, because, without them you’d never know the good times.
Is it just the climb?
No. If you want to change your life and the world, it’s the grind.
Hold on to God’s hand and keep grinding.