Hey family! Its a new year! Thought this would be perfectly cutting as the new starts! Also if you would like to continue sowing into my life you can donate two ways
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It was the last day of the hike and it felt like the day of the championship game. Anticipation, adrenaline, and the pressure to win. 13,000 feet of elevation (if you don’t know a lot about elevation- basically we(well I) could barely breath), 25+ miles of total hiking, and the trophy was seeing this beautiful quarter lake. We were down to 18/30 people hiking…but we made it this far and it was no turning back now.
We gathered up, we prayed, and we started hiking.
The past two days we had journey markers to guide us along the way but today seemed a little different. Parts of the trail wasn’t well marked out. We had to cross over a sand hill. The sand hill didn’t have any defined trail markers. We had to cross over logs because there was no other way to get across. We had to walk through narrow spaces full of mud and water. It definitely wasn’t something I anticipated but I had to go through it because there was no other way.
Nugget 1: There are going to be parts of your journey that don’t look well marked out. You can easily get frustrated and discouraged because in life we like for plans to be direct, concrete, and nothing in between. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like you have concrete journey markers to help you along the way but God tells us, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Even when you’re given a starting point know the Lord has the end marker already figured out. Follow Him.
We get to a part on the trail and I hear two dogs barking away. Dogs don’t usually scare me but as we got closer their tone changed and I just got a little concerned. They weren’t on leashes. I was a little intimated but I realized the bark was bigger than their bite. So I walked passed them even as they inched closer.
Nugget 2: There will be people on your journey who’s purpose is to intimidate you from continuing to walk forward. Their bark is bigger than their bite. Don’t let the bark of many scare you from walking into your purpose. Don’t let the sounds and words of others to allow you to walk in fear. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7
We had gotten through most of the hike. It was probably the hardest just because the air was a lot more thinner and we were walking up a continuous hill. I had only eaten about 4 hours prior and I was trying to stretch my last bit of water. I started talking to one of my squad mates. We were having a great conversation but I felt like I had to stop every 10 seconds to catch my breath. At one point I stopped and told him you can go ahead. As I took a second to catch my breath I noticed him still standing there and he didn’t leave me behind. When I stopped he stopped. When I moved he moved. We reached a leveled hill and he handed me a breakfast bar as we took a snack break before the final stretch.
Nugget 3: There are people along your journey who are meant to walk with you. Know who these people are in your life. When you want to quit, when you’re frustrated, and when you see small victories allow them to walk alongside of you and encourage you through each process. You don’t have to do this journey alone. You weren’t meant to do it alone. We’re all on the same journey taking different paths.
We got to the top and it was one of the most beautiful sights I had seen in my lifetime. This hike was not in vain. There is always a prize at the end of the journey.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
“Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
Happy New Years! Be encouraged and know the journey you are on is not in vain! Even when the journey doesn’t come with a complete road map continue moving in faith and hope that the Lord calls us to
“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
When the fear of mans word tries to intimidate you remember,
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6
Know you weren’t meant to do this journey alone. Paul didn’t do it alone. He had men along the journey to encourage him and walk alongside him. Jesus even had disciples that walked with Him who He encouraged along the way.
As you start or continue this journey this year may it be filled with victories, encouragement from others, and the faith that God is leading you in every way…allow Him even when the journey markers aren’t defined.
