Climbing Mountains

The rain began pattering our tent before the sun came up.

Yesterday, we hiked a few miles up a steep trail and were blessed with a beautiful view of the valley from the mountain peak. The mid-July weather had been perfect–sunny, not too hot, not too humid. I took a deep breath as I imagined hiking back down that same steep trail, unsure of what rain would bring to our downward journey. 

As we started our descent down the mountain, the rocky path was not only steep, but now slippery. Each step taken had to be intentionally placed; one stumble could result in a twisted ankle.

My legs burned while blisters formed underneath my wet socks. As the rain continued to fall, my poncho stuck to me, trapping all the heat and sweat from the strenuous journey. 

Then, as we approached the trailhead, the rain slowed to a stop. Finally, a reprieve from the relentless morning downpour. The plan was to rest, regroup, and continue our hike to the next campsite. 

I was physically exhausted. I wanted to give up.

As we finished our lunch, the sun started to shine and dry our wet clothes. Somewhere inside I felt words of encouragement bubble up. Keep going. Don’t give up now. Look what you just came through. It will be worth it. We refilled our water bottles, stuffed the ponchos into the packs, and lifted those same heavy packs up on our shoulders. I put one foot in front of the other and began taking steps towards the rest of the journey.

It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.

Psalm 18:32

When I was tempted to call it quits, I was reminded that God doesn’t promise to eliminate challenges in our paths, instead He promises to give us strength to overcome them. With each mountain, rocky road, and rainstorm in life, we have an opportunity for growth. When we look to Him in the midst of life’s challenges, He carries us, teaches us, and strengthens us each step of the way.