Ennathinks

Jemimah Rodrigues became a household name for Indian cricket fans. Her unbeaten 125 helped the Indian women’s team reach the Women’s ODI World Cup final. It was a mammoth chase of 339, and Rodrigues guided the team to victory.

The Hindu newspaper reported, “Jemimah conquers the demons of self-doubt and insecurity” (Nov. 1, 2025). Rightly so, because during the presentation ceremony she said, “Firstly I would like to thank Jesus as I couldn’t do it on my own.”

She revealed the Bible quote she kept repeating through the innings: “Stand still and God will fight for you.” That faith carried her; she wore it on her sleeve as she reached the mountaintop.

In the final against South Africa, Rodrigues scored 24, and the team lifted the cup. Afterward, some online voices mocked her faith, asking, “Jesus didn’t help today?”—a cruel caricature from the mountaintop to the pit.

When people of influence are treated this way, imagine what everyday people go through—especially those who wear faith openly while striving to make a living.

The Mountain and the Marketplace

The same contrast appeared in Jesus’ time with His disciples.

On the mountain, Jesus called Peter, James, and John to pray (Mt. 17:1–8). They witnessed His transfiguration—the moment when Elijah and Moses spoke with Him. Peter’s impulse was to build three tents, saying, “It’s great to be here.”

Mountain-top experiences of encounter with God offer a glimpse of glory, yet they should propel us back to the need of the marketplace, not retreat from it.

When they descended, a crisis awaited in the crowd. A father brought his son possessed by a demon; the disciples could not heal him, and a heated argument ensued.

Jesus asked, “What’s all the fuss about?”

The call to meet the market’s need is constant; the mountain experience is not an escape but power for daily ministry. Jesus healed the boy, and when the disciples asked why they failed, He pointed to what was missing—prayer, fasting, and spiritual discipline. These were reminders that without daily quiet time with God, the heart grows cold and the ministry falters.

Susanna Wesley prayed,

“Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not confined to the church or closet, nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in thy presence.”

The moment of glory is not for itself but to clothe everyday tasks with new radiance.

A Personal Memory

In my own memory, in high school, I attended a students’ camp where God found me and made me His child. On the final day, I stood in the chapel, sobbing as the camp closed.

One mentor asked why I cried. I asked if the camp could be extended—I didn’t want to return to the old routines that tempted me.

He smiled and said, “When you came here, you came alone; now you are going with Jesus. So, you and He—let’s go.” That daily invitation—You, me, let’s go—remains. Meeting God in secret places should empower us to meet needs in the marketplace.

Conclusion

The mountain moments aren’t an escape from the world but a source of strength to walk through it. The call remains the same: invest in intimate time with God daily, so faith can meet the needs of daily life with courage, clarity, and compassion.

Key Takeaways

• Mountain-top encounters empower, not isolate. They equip us for daily service.
• Faith expressed in the marketplace is a powerful witness.
• Spiritual disciplines anchor us when public praise turns to criticism.