One of the highlights of our recent memory maker trip was to hike in the mountains. I ended up being sick most of the trip, but God allowed sufficient strength and short breaks from the illness to take two hikes, one in the Organ Mountains near Las Cruces, New Mexico and after a few days’ rest, another in the Franklin Mountains outside of El Paso. Neither would normally be extremely difficult climbs but they both provided challenge for this Leukemic body.
My sister took a photo of me on an easy part of the hike and facing “my mountain.” She thought it symbolic of the challenges we face and our necessity for perseverance in the journey. I was simply trying to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation while finding the balance between pushing myself to a goal and not overdoing it.
As I was resting on one of many boulder ‘rest stops’ I contemplated how terrifying and exciting it would have been to experience the moment when God told the mountains to rise. I also think about the mountains we all face in our lives. . . those parts of our life walk that require more effort and greater endurance to overcome. What mountains do you face? Be they cancer, chronic physical pain, emotional turmoil, relationship stress, financial struggles, or any other serious difficulty, climbing that mountain can certainly be more intimidating and oppressing than my 2 1/2 hour hike.
What do you need to equip yourself in such a journey? Certainly real hope that secures your footing and keeps you from stumbling along the path. Also faith that allows you to see beyond your current suffering. And perseverance that produces the character that doesn’t give up, and the ability to find the secret of contentment in both the journey and the destination. Finally, we all need a friend who will walk with us all the way, who helps us up and encourages us to push on. Jesus calls us ‘friend’ and He also provided such a wonderful friend in my soul mate, Marcia. (If photos do not show in the email post, click on link to website to view.)
God promises to make a way through the mountains in our lives. Today is a great day to trust Him with your journey.
“And I will make all my mountains a way and my highways will be exalted.” Isaiah 49:11