In these times of social distancing, one activity we can safely do is hiking. So, let’s go on a hike together! Are you with me? Our journey will begin by the lake. Just imagine taking deep breaths and breathing in the clean, fresh, mask free air. Look around and absorb the beauty of the view. Fluffy white clouds contrasted against the brilliant blue sky reflect in the calm, clear lake. Plants surround the lake like a rich, green picture frame. The mountains rise majestically in the distance. Everything is peaceful. The only sounds are the melodic songs of the birds and the gentle rustling of the leaves in the soft breeze. We could continue to relax by the water and be content, but we know the goal is to climb to the top of the mountain.
There will be challenges on our journey. Are you still willing to go?
Because there is no path up the mountain, our challenge will be to make our own. Following the lake, we meander through the trees to the base of the mountain. At first, it’s not too difficult, but as we climb, the trees become thicker blocking the sunlight. We step into holes and trip over branches hidden by the heavy undergrowth. Emerging from the thick trees into a clearing, we find a place to rest. We count all of the scrapes and bruises we acquired but then, we notice the magnificent view. As we rest, the peace we felt at the beginning of our journey returns and refreshes us.
Are you ready to persevere?
As we traverse up the mountain, the trees thin out relieving us of the hazards of scrub and limbs scratching at our bodies. The new challenge is the rocky path. Stumbling on the jagged rocks we both fall and cut ourselves. Well, it was bound to happen! It’s a good thing we brought band aids! It looks like both of us will have scars from this fall. Do you agree that we should persevere? Determined to reach our goal, we continue. As we go, we occasionally stumble on the rocks adding more bruises to our collection of injuries. Determined, we continue on. Finally, we reach the top! The views are magnificent!
Don’t you agree that it was worth the journey and struggle to reach the summit?
Faith is a journey.
Like climbing up a mountain, there will be times of peace and relaxation. Other times our journey may take us on a rocky path. It is how we take the journey that determines if we will complete it.
There are 3 keys we can use to help us complete our journey.
KEY #1- HAVE A PARTNER.
Don’t take the journey alone. I don’t mean a physical partner like in our imaginary journey together. However, it is important to allow others to assist and encourage us along the way, (1 Thessalonians 5:11). I mean a partner who has knowledge of our path. Someone with wisdom who will guide, support, assist us in our journey and never abandon us. That partner is God.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8
Often times we work towards a goal, perhaps a God given one, but we leave God out of our plans.
God is the perfect partner. In His infinite wisdom and love for us, He knows the best path for us to take.
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)
KEY #2 – UNDERSTAND FAITH.
If the trek up the mountain had been a real journey, before we started, we would need to understand what we could face. Knowing we would need to forge our own path also meant that we might occasionally go off in the wrong direction. Knowing that we would be walking through a forest and scaling rocky terrain meant we would face challenges. Although we would not be able to anticipate everything we would encounter, we had to be willing to face all the possibilities.
Sometimes we assume faith means constant peace and victory.
We step out in faith for something, but when we experience challenges and failures, we assume we don’t have enough faith or are on the wrong path. Then we give up.
Understanding what faith does and doesn’t mean, will encourage us along the journey.
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What does faith mean? What doesn’t faith mean?
Faith doesn’t mean we need a huge mountain of belief – Faith means we only need a small mustard seed of belief.
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 (NIV)
Faith doesn’t mean we won’t’ stumble or fall – Faith means God will help us get back up.
The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV)
Faith doesn’t mean we won’t get frustrated, angry or cry – Faith means that there is still hope in God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Psalm 42:11
Faith doesn’t mean we won’t’ get scratched, bruised or scared – Faith means God can use our trials to help others and perhaps open new paths for you.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
Faith doesn’t mean we will always have peace – Faith means we can turn to God, who can give us peace.
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3
Faith doesn’t mean we can’t fail along the journey – Faith means that we trust God to use it for good.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
Faith does not mean that we deny reality, but
that we do trust God to be victorious in spite of it.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
KEY #3 – PERSEVERE IN FAITH.
The imaginary journey up this mountain resulted in scratches, bruises and scarring. Along the way there were challenges. But in spite of the challenges, we persevered to reach our goal.
Sometimes we step out in faith not knowing how our journey will end. Our only goal is to follow whichever way the Lord leads us. In times like these, we can’t anticipate specific challenges, but we can anticipate that challenges will come. Other times, God may give us a specific goal like starting a business. In that case there are fewer unknowns. We may be able to anticipate some possible challenges, but we will not know how God will walk us through them. Whatever the case, the journey of faith requires perseverance.
We cannot see God’s plan fulfilled or experience the joy of His victory if we don’t preserver. Whatever we run into; we can trust God to guide us along the way.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Faith is about partnering with God, understanding faith & persevering no matter what we encounter. Like the path up a rocky mountain, the path of faith can be rocky. We may get scratched, and bruised, and scarred, but the reward will be worth the trip.
With God as our partner, we can reach the top of the mountain and see His victory!
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Hebrews 10:36
MY ROCKY JOURNEY
Technology! Ahhh!
Like many of you, I have been on many faith journeys. Well, the latest one is technology! Let me paint you a picture of my skills. On the computer I was pretty good in Word and my normal email, but that’s about it. We won’t talk about how long it took me to learn to text or find the stickers on my phone. And Facebook? Well, let me ask you a few questions. How many of these things can you do?
• Use multiple pictures in one Facebook post?
• Understand and use #hashtag’s?
• Tag someone in a Facebook post?
• Post a link?
These are just some of the things that I could not do. Well, actually, I am still learning to do them! It’s ok if you are laughing at me right now. But how about this one. I had to figure out how to automate blog distributions to subscribers! Ok. Some of you are still laughing. Well, I am glad I could make you smile. But I was not smiling through learning all of this.
I knew God would help me learn whatever I needed Because He promised,
Psalm 138:8a The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever.
However, I thought that meant God would just plop someone in front of me to do it all!
Nope! I was so wrong. Although thankfully, God did bring wonderful Alexis1 into my life, apparently, I still needed to learn. God’s plan was to take me from fear of technology to joy in learning about it. Let me tell you that it was not a smooth path.
There were days when I got sooo frustrated!
I just wanted to throw my computer down
and do a Mexican hat dance on it!
There were days when I cried. There were days when I begged God to let someone else do it all. But God did something better than that. He brought me joy and curiosity to learn technology. I still have a long way to go and I still have moments of frustration. But I have the faith that whatever I need to know, God will lead me. With bruised pride, scratched confidence, and scars of fear, no matter how many times I fail, in faith, I will keep persevering!
REFLECTION
Do you feel God has taken you hiking on a rocky path? What can you do to preserver?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I pray Proverbs 3:5-6 out loud, help me to trust in you whatever comes my way. Hold me in Your loving arms as I walk this journey of faith and remind me that You are with me every step of journey, especially when the path is rocky.
FAITH DOESN’T DENY REALITY BUT PERSEVERES
KNOWING GOD CAN BE VICTORIOUS IN SPITE OF IT!
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1 Chicklet Marketing
Mountain photo, dorothea oldani, unsplash
Mountain hiker photo, Joshua earle, unsplash
Key on Bible photo, sixteen-miles-out, unsplash
Key in leaves photo, Michael dziedzic, unsplash
Key on rock photo, sergey raikin, unsplash
Technology photo, firmbee, pixabay
Please let me know how you like my blog. You can connect with me on my Facebook page or by email through this website. Thanks so much!
