What a hike

So... a couple of weekends ago, I got a much needed weekend away filled with adventure, laughter, and beautiful friendships that are nestled in the love of Christ. It was such a thrill! When I share the experience of this backpacking/camping trip with others, repeatedly I get this crooked look from them. They look at me like, "You've got to be kidding me?!?!?" And I get it. Why. would. anyone. sign. up. for. this? But, it was so, so, so good for my soul! Here goes...

We headed out for our trip way after dark, fully knowing the weather forecasts of an incoming cold front with freezing temperatures that would be preceded by lots of rain, but also totally confident that we were equipped to walk this out and still come out smiling on the other side. Or, at least, we hoped for the "still smiling" part:) Being with a group of people that had ample experience in hiking, bushcraft, camping, and survival skills, made this all the more easier for me remain committed to the journey. We unloaded our cars, packed on our gear, and headed into the forested darkness with only our maps and headlamps to guide us to our first destination. As we walked and talked, we realized for a time we could turn off our headlamps and allow the moonlight to lead the way as we meandered alongside the shallow creek on softly packed sand. Beautiful! The Father certainly has a way of drawing me in. A mile and a half in and the rains began to fall. What a refreshing downpour. My skinned cried out to run through the shower minus the rain gear to feel each drop hit my skin. There is something about doing this that makes you feel even more alive than you already are. I refused those impulsive desires knowing the dire consequences that lay in wait with the impending freezing temperatures.

Later, a friend pointed out afterwards, the comparison of God's Word to rain in Isaiah 55, "“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (emphasis mine) 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

Those words transform my memory of a simple walk in the rain to a beautiful picture of being saturated by the downpour of my Father's Word. Oh, that our hearts would crave His Word even more than my skin craved the touch of each rain drop knowing full well that It would accomplish much in us! If only we would trust when His Word illuminates the path before us like the moonlight did for our hike, so we could walk with with the clarity and confidence of David in Psalm 119, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Back to the hike... As we arrived to our site, the storm's intensity grew. The men that we were with braved the storm and set up a shelter. By this time, it's early morning and we began settling in between rains, setting up our tents and hammocks for the night. I nuzzled my way into my hammock with only a few hours till daybreak and minutes until the next storm would come through. Prior to the storm, I prayed that the lightening would not bring about fear and that the cold would not move me. Father answered both! The storm did, in fact, come. As it swung my hammock left and right and the rains soaked me in my hammock despite my best efforts, I clung to the sides of my makeshift bed, closed my eyes to the threat of each lightening strike, and began to thank my Father that in the midst of life's storms I had Him to cling to. I thanked Him that just as I was cocooned in that hammock, I was cocooned in His safe hands come what may. The scripture that kept coming to my mind is in Exodus 33, "21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” The Lord put Moses in the cleft of the rock as His glory passed by to protect him. Before that He warns Moses that no one could see His face and live. The rock is such a picture of the security and the steadfastness of the Lord. This verse is such a reminder that standing in the face of danger does not mean sitting in the absence of the Father and all His glory! He is One to be reckoned with! Mighty and fierce. And. He's on your side!

That night thunder clapped and lightening crashed, but I had no fear! I knew that my Father was holding me and shielding me. As I closed my eyes to the threats, I focused on His presence and His promises! Whether the storms headed your way are predictable or not, you too can face them head on, knowing that the Lord has completely equipped you to walk through them. Be encouraged to remain in God's Word allowing it to have its perfect work in you. God's Word says in 2 Timothy that "16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [c]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Y'all a huge part of what made that hike not only doable, but also filled with joy was the company. Who are you keeping company with? Do you have a community of faith-filled friends to encourage you, strengthen you, and cheer you on when the rains come and the trail ahead gets muddy, slippery, and maybe nearly undetectable? It makes all the difference! Find a church. Don't go it alone. Find a group of people that love Jesus to walk with. It makes life all the more richer!

Here's Psalm 91 for you to ponder over today.

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

May you trust in His everlasting Love! He proved it to us went He sent His only Son to die the death of a criminal for us when He could be found at fault for nothing but love. He is trustworthy. Happy trails to you friend! Blessings of love, joy, and peace regardless the forecast of your day. Your hope is in Christ alone!

Hebrews 13:20 "Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenantbrought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Hebrews 10:25 And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope. Let us do this even more as you see Christ’s return approaching.

NIRV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMcg-WXsS_A, You Make Me Brave, Bethel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4rRCjrAyCs, Hills and Valleys, Tauren Wells