--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a mountain climber who slipped…" description: "\"“There was a mountain climber who slipped on a ledge and was about to plummet thousands of feet to his death, but as he started to fall, he grabbed a b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/r-c-sproul-2-1477_climber_there-was-a-mountain-climber-who-slipped_2465480.jpg" --- # There was a mountain climber who slipped on a ledge and… ![“There was a mountain climber who slipped on a ledge and was about to plummet thousands of feet to his death, but as he started to fall, he grabbed a branch of a tiny, scraggly tree that was growing out of a crack in the face of the cliff. As he clung to the branch, the roots of the scraggly tree…” quote by R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/r-c-sproul-2-1477_climber_there-was-a-mountain-climber-who-slipped_2465480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/r-c-sproul-2-1477_climber_there-was-a-mountain-climber-who-slipped_2465480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/r-c-sproul-2-1477_climber_there-was-a-mountain-climber-who-slipped_2465480.jpg) > ““There was a mountain climber who slipped on a ledge and was about to plummet thousands of feet to his death, but as he started to fall, he grabbed a branch of a tiny, scraggly tree that was growing out of a crack in the face of the cliff. As he clung to the branch, the roots of the scraggly tree began to pull loose, and the climber was facing certain death. At that moment, he cried out to the heavens, “Is there anyone up there who can help me?” In reply, he heard a rich, baritone voice from the sky, saying: “Yes. I am here and I will help you. Let go of the branch and trust Me.” The man looked up to heaven and then looked back down into the abyss. Finally, he raised his voice again and said, “Is there anyone else up there who can help me?”” [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When facing crisis, surrendering control to a higher power can bring salvation, but requires letting go of self‑reliance. **In simple terms:** Trust in divine help, release personal grip. Key Takeaway Release control and trust higher guidance. Themes faith trust letting go crisis divine aid Mood hopeful serene Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - mountain climbing accident - financial collapse - relationship breakdown - health emergency Key Concepts spiritual surrender faith humility Questions to Reflect On - What would you need to let go of to trust fully? - How can faith and practical steps coexist? A Different Perspective Blind trust can lead to passivity if not balanced with practical action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climber/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Heavens Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavens-help-704392/) [Mountain Climber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain-climber-704393/) [Said Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-help-704394/) [Sky Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky-saying-704391/) ## Related quotes > [I am an amateur mountain climber. Once or twice a year I go off to Chamonix in the French Alps, under Mont Blanc, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-littell/i-am-an-amateur-mountain-climber-once-or-twice-a-year-i-go-off-to/) [Robert Littell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-littell/) > [The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain - he is inspired by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-experienced-mountain-climber-is-not-intimidated-by-a-mountain-he/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [“The view from the mountaintop is not what makes you a mountain-climber; it is the climb itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-kuhn/the-view-from-the-mountaintop-is-not-what-makes-you-a-mountain/) [Greg Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-kuhn/) > [“When God creates Eve, he calls her an ezer kenegdo. “It is not good for the man to be alone, I shall make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/when-god-creates-eve-he-calls-her-an-ezer-kenegdo-it-is-not-good-for-2/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“He called out to the heavens for help, but the heavens remained dark, as is sometimes the case at night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryna-dyachenko/he-called-out-to-the-heavens-for-help-but-the-heavens-remained-dark/) [Maryna Dyachenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryna-dyachenko/) > [“I always thought of the stars like a handful of gems that God randomly tossed across the sky, saying, 'Here, go wherever you please.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-vanderbeek/i-always-thought-of-the-stars-like-a-handful-of-gems-that-god/) [Chelsea Vanderbeek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-vanderbeek/) > [The question is, what color will everything be at that moment when I come for you? What will the sky be saying?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/the-question-is-what-color-will-everything-be-at-that-moment-when-i-2/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Putting God in the pledge and on money—that’s like a sign in the sky saying ‘air.’ ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-jean-mayhew/putting-god-in-the-pledge-and-on-money-that-s-like-a-sign-in-the-sky/) [Anna Jean Mayhew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-jean-mayhew/) > [“The question is, what color will everything be at that moment when I come for you? What will the sky be saying? Personally,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/the-question-is-what-color-will-everything-be-at-that-moment-when-i/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“A million possible endearments ran through his head. But he said, “Help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/a-million-possible-endearments-ran-through-his-head-but-he-said-help/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [“You will help, won’t you?” Dragging his gaze from the doorway, he shook his head as if to clear it. “ Help? ” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/you-will-help-won-t-you-dragging-his-gaze-from-the-doorway-he-shook/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [I simply said that I would do everything to help Taiwan to defend itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-simply-said-that-i-would-do-everything-to-help-taiwan-to-defend/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Do you remember what you said to me once? That you could help me only by loving me? Well-you did love me for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/do-you-remember-what-you-said-to-me-once-that-you-could-help-me-only/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“How like a male. Pull out some tools and start banging on something, and they flocked in from miles around. She pushed her hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/how-like-a-male-pull-out-some-tools-and-start-banging-on-something/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [“And no one asked me, Do you want to? Can you? Or said, We will help you, you can't do this all by yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-persson-giolito/and-no-one-asked-me-do-you-want-to-can-you-or-said-we-will-help-you/) [Malin Persson Giolito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-persson-giolito/) ## More by R.C. Sproul > [“If we rest our assurance on an experience and not on the Word of God, we're inviting all kinds of doubts to assail us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/if-we-rest-our-assurance-on-an-experience-and-not-on-the-word-of-god/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“Where Adam collapsed, Jesus conquered. Where Adam compromised, Jesus refused to negotiate. Where Adam's trust in God faltered, Jesus' never wavered. The second Adam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/where-adam-collapsed-jesus-conquered-where-adam-compromised-jesus/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“Arrogant worship is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. Yet we see it throughout Scripture. The gospel was given to Adam and Eve. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/arrogant-worship-is-an-oxymoron-a-contradiction-in-terms-yet-we-see/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“Throughout history, God has demonstrated that He is supremely trustworthy. That’s why, in one sense, nothing could be more foolish than not to trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/throughout-history-god-has-demonstrated-that-he-is-supremely/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“If I don't like something I read in Scripture, perhaps I simply don't understand it. If so, studying it again may help. If, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/if-i-don-t-like-something-i-read-in-scripture-perhaps-i-simply-don-t/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“The day of one's birth is a good day for the believer, but the day of death is the greatest day that a Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/the-day-of-one-s-birth-is-a-good-day-for-the-believer-but-the-day-of/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“We do not “find” God as a result of our search for him. We are found by him. The search for God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/we-do-not-find-god-as-a-result-of-our-search-for-him-we-are-found-by/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“We tend to remain conscious of the boundary flags for the course of this world. That slavish adherence to a course that is set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/we-tend-to-remain-conscious-of-the-boundary-flags-for-the-course-of/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“If our decisions about how to treat others are always motivated by love for God, a singular love for God, we really do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/if-our-decisions-about-how-to-treat-others-are-always-motivated-by/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“When we understand the character of God, when we grasp something of His holiness, then we begin to understand the radical character of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/when-we-understand-the-character-of-god-when-we-grasp-something-of/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“For an action to be judged good by God, it must fulfill two primary requirements. The first is that the action must correspond outwardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/for-an-action-to-be-judged-good-by-god-it-must-fulfill-two-primary/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“The simplistic way of not conforming is to see what is in style in our culture and then do the opposite. If short hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/the-simplistic-way-of-not-conforming-is-to-see-what-is-in-style-in/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“Though sin often brings immediate pleasure, it gives no lasting joy. If we understand the difference, we can avoid the pitfalls that entice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/though-sin-often-brings-immediate-pleasure-it-gives-no-lasting-joy-if/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“To be a Christian is to be a theologian—a student of God and his will. The church is where believers should be nurtured in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/to-be-a-christian-is-to-be-a-theologian-a-student-of-god-and-his-will/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“We need Christ-the real Christ. A Christ born of empty speculation or created to squeeze into the philosopher's pattern simply won't do. A recycled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/we-need-christ-the-real-christ-a-christ-born-of-empty-speculation-or/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) [Explore all 221 R.C. Sproul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) ## More Climber quotes > [There are many questions, but I cannot answer because I'm not a businessman, I am a climber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/there-are-many-questions-but-i-cannot-answer-because-i-m-not-a/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [For years I was a rock climber and nothing else. I went to school, yes, and university, yes, but in my heart I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/for-years-i-was-a-rock-climber-and-nothing-else-i-went-to-school-yes/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [I think part of my business problems stemmed from a feeling that I had to be more than a good climber, that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lowe/i-think-part-of-my-business-problems-stemmed-from-a-feeling-that-i/) [Jeff Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lowe/) > [“In the end though, everybody dies, but not everybody lives—the climber, though he may die young, will have lived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrence/in-the-end-though-everybody-dies-but-not-everybody-lives-the-climber/) [Mark Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrence/) > [James Salter has been a fighter pilot, a rogue, and a climber. He counts Robert Redford as a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/james-salter-has-been-a-fighter-pilot-a-rogue-and-a-climber-he-counts/) [Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/) > [The best climber in the world is the one that has the most fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lowe/the-best-climber-in-the-world-is-the-one-that-has-the-most-fun/) [Alex Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lowe/) > [In his laborious efforts to attain mountaintops, where the air is lighter and purer, the climber gains new strength of limb. In the endeavor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/in-his-laborious-efforts-to-attain-mountaintops-where-the-air-is/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [the deepest part of me is, and will always be, a climber. ... No matter where I go, I always feel like a climber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-allison/the-deepest-part-of-me-is-and-will-always-be-a-climber-no-matter/) [Stacy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-allison/) > [Rubina hasn't fully explored her adventurous side yet. The main reason I fell in love with her was because she is super healthy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/rubina-hasn-t-fully-explored-her-adventurous-side-yet-the-main-reason/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [As a child I was the best tree climber in our neighbourhood, I was like a little monkey. I've never been afraid of hurting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/as-a-child-i-was-the-best-tree-climber-in-our-neighbourhood-i-was/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [Enthusiasm is the great hill-climber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/enthusiasm-is-the-great-hill-climber/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“His name feels like a secret, and now he's wearing it on his wrist. I want to know all about this girl who put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-york/his-name-feels-like-a-secret-and-now-he-s-wearing-it-on-his-wrist-i/) [Robin York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-york/) > [My ambition was to become the best climber and I never did. I think that goal was a wrong goal. A better one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royal-robbins/my-ambition-was-to-become-the-best-climber-and-i-never-did-i-think/) [Royal Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royal-robbins/) > [A 30-year-old rock climber is an old man. At 40, one is in the middle of his high-altitude power. At 50, a crosser of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/a-30-year-old-rock-climber-is-an-old-man-at-40-one-is-in-the-middle/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [“the climber. The raw, primeval strength”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-king/the-climber-the-raw-primeval-strength/) [Susan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-king/) [Browse all 63 Climber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climber/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There was a mountain climber who slipped on a ledge and was about to plummet thousands of feet to his death, but as he started to fall, he grabbed a branch of a tiny, scraggly tree that was growing out of a crack in the face of the cliff. As he clung to the branch, the roots of the scraggly tree began to pull loose, and the climber was facing certain death. At that moment, he cried out to the heavens, “Is there anyone up there who can help me?” In reply, he heard a rich, baritone voice from the sky, saying: “Yes. I am here and I will help you. Let go of the branch and trust Me.” The man looked up to heaven and then looked back down into the abyss. 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