Climbing Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park, California
A couple weeks ago, I posted about God asking us what we want to do – because He wants us to choose, and then He will be with us in following through on our decision.
Mt. Stewart from near Bean Peak, Washington
It’s a new reality of following God to be able to choose what it is that we do and go and be. It’s totally freeing.
Waterfall along the Summit Trail in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington
But in the middle of that, there is still the voice that says, “Do it this way. Go here. Make this choice.”
Views from Mohave Point in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
I find this a great comfort. I get to choose, at times, but when God knows I won’t make the right choice – or even if I need help with a decision, and He knows it – God is still there for me. He’s not going to abandon me just because He trusts me.
Escalante Desert near Coyote Gulch, Utah
On our last trip, we were coming back from a very difficult hike up Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s state high point. Besides being one of our first hikes (and therefore not being in shape), not being acclimated to the elevation, and the sheer length of the hike, the canned ham we had brought along made all of us feel sick. It wasn’t the most pleasant hike in the world.
Heading for Wheeler Peak
The day before, at the trailhead, a couple rangers had recommended to us another hike in the area – Gold Hill. They had even pulled out a map so I could take pictures of it so we would know where to go (it’s a good thing they did; I wouldn’t have found the trailhead / trail if they hadn’t). It sounded interesting. And I wanted to hike that trail.
Williams Lake along the Wheeler Peak Trail
But coming off of Wheeler Peak, watching my group members struggle back down the trail, I knew it simply wasn’t possible. We were tired. We needed to recover.
The views from Wheeler were outstanding, and made the pain worth it!
And so I laid everything down – what I wanted to do, my weariness, everything. I began to pray. God, what do we do?
Daisies and lupines along the Summit Trail, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington
Instead of God saying, “What would you like to do?”, He said, “You need to hike Gold Hill. I brought you half way across the country to meet those rangers so you would hike that trail.”
Hiking the Flat Tops of Colorado near the Causeway
Oh boy, I thought. This one is going to go over well with the group – not!
Views along the Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
I planned the timing of telling the group. It says in proverbs that even the best news at the wrong time is considered a curse (27:14), and I didn’t want my “Thus sayeth the Lord” to be considered in that light.
Near Camp Cannonville, Utah
They took it well, thankfully, and we did wait a day before setting out on the trail that would take us up Gold Hill.
Fireweed below Himes Peak, Colorado
But that hike was one of the greatest blessings of the entire trip. It was pleasant. It was outstandingly beautiful. And while I won’t say we weren’t out of breath at times (12,000ft. is nothing to sneeze at, especially when you’re not acclimated to that elevation!), it wasn’t a burden.
Views from (almost at) the top of Gold Hill
I’m so thankful God spoke to me and said “Just do it!” (if not in so many words). I’m thankful I’m not alone in these decisions. And I’m glad that God has it under control, even when I’m suffering from altitude sickness and bad canned ham.
