On Friday, we decided we wanted to hike a volcano in Guatemala, because when will we ever get a chance like that again? We had to weigh the odds though. Would we hike the volcano or cliff jump with the rest of the squad? 10 of us chose to hike the volcano and take in the beauty of God’s creation from close to 10,000 ft high. It wasn’t an easy decision for me though, because a lot of times I like to do what everyone else is doing. I don’t like missing out, but I see God in nature, so I was sure to find Him hiking a volcano. I knew, if I stayed back with the team, I would have been filling worldly desires, not spiritual desires.
Okay, so this blog is basically going to be many revelational metaphors the Holy Spirit spoke to me while hiking to the top of San Pedro volcano.
As we started up the volcano, the altitude had already started to hit us. We were already a good bit above sea level and we were just heading higher. The air was thin and it was harder to breathe. We got about 30% of the way up and there was a look out place. The view was amazing, but we still had a long way to go. We could have stayed there and enjoyed the amazing view, but we didn’t. We chose to press in. To continue climbing to the top. We knew it would be tough and take lots of endurance.
(halfway up the volcano)
I knew there was no way I could do it on my own strength. As we started heading higher, my breaths got shallower and I was really annoyed with how out of shape I had gotten.
As I was walking my ear got hot. I heard God tell me to talk to Him. I started thanking Him. Thanking Him for this opportunity, thanking Him for the beautiful volcano. Asking what I did to deserve this. Why we deserved a trip so soon. I then heard Him tell me this metaphor.
I heard Him tell me, this is just a little break so we can get filled before heading back to ministry. He told me just like we needed breaks to catch our breath, and fill our lungs with oxygen to go up the mountain, we are going to need breaks to be filled by Him, so we can truly minister.
He also reminded me that climbing the volcano took endurance, just like our World Race. It is going to take endurance and strength from Him to complete the Race. He reminded me, on my own I can’t do it, but if I ask for His strength, He will give it to me.
He told me not to turn back. Although I wanted to throw in the towel and say the view is great from here, He told me not to give up, just keep going. We did. The only way I made it was by praying. Praying thanksgivings to God. Thanking Him for the strength He was giving my out of shape legs.
When we got to the top, the view was breath talking. Ten times better than every other view we had seen during the hike. He whispered in my ear. Wasn’t it worth it? I smiled as He reminded me the growth in our relationship over the next year would be worth it too.
Just like the prayer He answered for strength to make it to the top of the volcano, if I ask Him for strength as our relationship gets harder, He will give it to me. Just like the endurance it took to make it to the top, it will take endurance to get closer to Him.
He showed me, just like we are all different in our physical pace and speed, each of our paces towards Him and His beauty is different. Just like we needed breaks to catch our breath, we sometimes need breaks from ministry to be filled by Him.
Just like the amazing view we saw at the top of the mountain was worth the pain in my legs, brining kingdom to earth may be painful, but it will be worth it.
Just like if we would have stopped half way up, the view would have been great, but nowhere near the beauty of the top. In our relationship with God, if we listen some of the time, we may reach part of our potential and yes, it will be beautiful. But if we press in and get strength from Him to endure until the end the results will be beyond our belief.
on top of San Pedro volcano
