When I was in college, I went hiking at Yosemite National Park in California. It is such a beautiful place! The first half of the trip was a pretty steep hike upward, but it was mostly tree-covered and breezy. My friends and I took it slowly. Finally we stopped and ate lunch. Problem: I had put my bag of lunch in the backpack of a girl who was nowhere to be found! Thankfully, a sweet friend gave me a little bit of hers.
But I was still hungry and therefore ill equipped for the rest of journey. The remainder of the hike to the top of the waterfall was very steep, and mostly rocky. There wasn't much shade, and the afternoon was really hot. I was scared of heights at the time, and much of the upward path included a clear view of a sharp downward drop to the left! Zoinks.
This time, it was just me and my friend, Lindsay, who is super patient! I made frequent stops to sit and gather strength. From time to time, hikers coming down the trail from where we were going would give us great encouragement to keep going. Finally, we made it to the amazing waterfall! It was so worth it.
When I look back on the journey, I am so fond of it. I am grateful for the time I had with Lindsay, too. If not for her kindness, patience, and encouragement, I may have quit. I never would have seen that amazing view from the top or gotten to cool myself in the clear and bubbling waterfall.
I am learning to love walking with God through hard times. When the trail is easy, it's easy to find delight in the flowers and scenic places instead of in your Companion. But when it is difficult and you come face to face with your weakness, you begin to see Him in new ways. You see what He really thinks of you and why. You see that He is sensitive and kind to you in your weakness, like how Lindsay stopped every few minutes at times without complaining. I personally felt like a tool, but she never judged me. God is the same. Even when you judge yourself, He won't!
And with Lindsay's gentle nudgings and kindness, we got there. There are times when God in His mercy will carry you through the hard places so you get to where He longs to take you. Always remember that He wants good things for you more than you even want them for yourself! He longs to draw you closer to Himself in love, and He uses the things throughout your whole life to do it. And when it is all said and done, if you don't give up, He will welcome you in victory! Joy!
So wherever you are in the journey, keep going. If you can't see Him, remember He is by your side. In the Bible He says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." It also says that "all scripture (Bible verses) is God-breathed." His promises are true, and they are for you! So know He is with you, and call out to Him. He will answer you no matter where you are, where you have been, what you have been up to. All He longs for is to love you. Read Luke 15 in the Bible and know He is your father longing to scoop you up and delight in you, making all things in your life new with His power and gentleness!
I love you and wish you a great journey!
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