Throughout my journey to the World Race, I have had this beautiful sense of peace. I’ve been very careful and intentional about staying in the peace, because that is where God is. It’s not always easy, especially when worry tries to creep in and remind me that I’m getting closer and closer to launch. It’s a battle, but I’m playing my part and getting out of the way so God can play His.
Part of what I’m doing during this preparation time is training for the physical component of the race. We aren’t traveling in limos and jets. There will be a lot of walking and with our entire house on our backs. I want to be ready so some of the youth I have worked with throughout the years offered to go on hikes with me to prepare.
We went on one of these hikes to Enchanted Rock National Park (it’s literally a huge, bare rock in the middle of nowhere Texas). I’ve been before and hiked to the summit, so I wasn’t stressed about it. I marked out about 3 miles of trail we would hike before heading to the summit. Now, I live in Texas. It is summer. It is hot. Like, sunscreen melts away after 10 minutes hot. But the hike wasn’t too bad. We rested under a nice tree with a cool breeze. We saw a lake and some fun rocks. It was a pretty awesome trail that didn’t feel like a stroll in a neighborhood park.
We were getting up to the back of Enchanted Rock, and I saw people walking down. It seemed a shorter distance and would save us some energy (it’s 3pm now and the sun has decided to shoot fireballs at us). So we start our ascent. And that’s where everything falls apart.
My legs begin to shake, I can’t seem to catch my breath, and my stomach feels like it is boiling. And this is when the doubt came. At my weakest point physically, the devil saw a chance to knock me on my butt spiritually.
The thoughts hit me like a hurricane – “Look at you. You can’t even walk up this small rock.” “You’re so out of shape. There’s no way you’re going to pass your test at training camp.” “You are ruining this whole trip by being so slow and weak.” “You’re going to ruin the trip for your squad. You should just cancel the world race.” “You wanted to hike mountains and you can’t even hike a rock. You’re so weak.”
At my weakest and most vulnerable, the devil thought he had his chance. Just like when Jesus had finished his 40 days in the wilderness, the devil hit with everything he had. And it hurt. And it was hard. And what he said was making sense.
But you don’t build strength in the battle; you build it before. Jesus studied God’s Word and was ready when the devil attacked him. And I’ve been walking with God as close as I possibly can, even when I’m stumbling. And God was there. He was there in the form of the two youth that came with me and the muscles I have been building before the hike.
The Youth
I’ve been learning how to trust and be vulnerable. I’ve been learning to be honest and lean on others when I can’t do it on my own. And that came into play. They were patient with me and encouraging and so supportive. They did not make me feel weak, but reminded me that I was strong. When I couldn’t carry my pack, they carried it for me.
We cannot walk as Christians alone. It’s impossible. We are made for relationships. We are made to support one another and unite our strengths to fight a very real darkness. I understand being hurt by people and not wanting to trust. But you must continue to fight to have an open heart. That is real strength, and that is where real living happens. These two young men were there when I needed them, just as I have been there when they needed me.
The Muscles
I’m not a bodybuilder, and my muscles are cozy behind the layer of fat, but I am not lazy. I take care of my body. I don’t settle for sitting 8 hours at my office job. I choose the fruit instead of the ice cream (most of the time). The choices I have made for months, the times I walked instead of sitting on the couch allowed me to continue. Once we hit the summit, we still had to hike down. I couldn’t stop there. I had to keep walking. And while my legs shook, and I didn’t know if I would trip and stumble, the preparation I had done before allowed me to make it back.
Times of rest, where you aren’t being put to the test, are the times when you must train and refine your skills. It’s time to build up stamina, it’s time to learn about your weaknesses and work through them because when the devil hits, he doesn’t back off. He wants to destroy your hope and your will, and you need to have it built up to endure and conquer the fight.
I had no idea that when I drove to Enchanted Rock, God was waiting to show His glory, but He was. And He showed up. We must play our part of being open, being willing, and being prepared, and getting out of the way so God can take care of the rest.
