Who knew that hiking could be so symbolic and be so
synonymous with the life trials and victories we experience…..?
A very good friend/sister of mine and I decided to go hiking
today. We both are unique in the fact that we HATEEEEEEE, ABHHORRRRRR, DESPISEEEEE exercising the old fashion way; by going to the gym. Thinking about going
to the gym actually makes my skin break out in hives….but I digress..
We decided to go hiking and enjoy nature and reflect on
this beautiful world that God had created. Little did I know that our little
hiking trip would turn into a journey , one that I will never forget. I believe
God truly taught us a lesson and about who He is. He showed us today a
different side of His character that became alive in my life.
So we met up early around 8am and got the day started! We
were pumped and ready for the adventure before us and BOY WAS IT AN
ADVENTURE..to say the least. We arrived at Greenbrier State Park and selected
the hiking trail that led straight to the top of the mountains. We were going
to make it at all cost!
We started off and everything was great! Beauty was all
around and my friend and I were having interesting conversations pertaining to
life and God as we hiked up the mountain. We were surrounded by huge boulders,
beautiful brightly lit paths and the sounds of nature. After about two hours
of hiking, we got lost. We were traveling in the completely wrong direction
for miles and we were LOST.
Lets stop right here. The narrative above has substantial
significance. When one first encounters the King of Kings/Jesus they are super
excited and pumped ready to conquer the world, much like how we felt. People
feel ready to go and start walking on this new journey that they have embarked
on with Jesus. It is great …and then things start happening… all of sudden you
may feel like you are stuck or lost. You may have lost you’re way and have
stepped away from living a life for Him for a bit to do your own thing. Then
when you finally realize that you are lost, you search to get back on the right
path and God helps you get back on track, with the journey you are on with Him.
Eventually we found ourselves back on the correct path. We
decided to take a break and take some pictures.
This is important. Even when we are lost and are getting back on the right path, it is important for us to not forget to find the beauty
in everything we come in contact with. We all go through stuff and its
important to not focus on the problem but to be joyful in everything. Find the
beauty in you’re ugly situation.
When we finally found our way back on the correct path, sickness
immediately hit me. Like MASSSIVVEEE cramps I have never had in my life. They
literally came from no wherrrreeeeee. I began to feel super light headed and
dizzy. I felt nauseous and eventually threw up. My legs were shaking and my cramps kept attacking me in waves. I
had to sit down every 30 seconds to rest because I literally could not move. At
this point, we were about 3 hours from the car so the only option was to get to
the top of the mountain. We had to continue.
My very good friend embodied the verse, Proverbs 18:24. It
says, “There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a
real friend sticks closer than a brother.”
She did not leave me throughout this
difficult time that I was experiencing. She was there by my side and let me rest in her lap for
over an hour because I literally I had no energy. Not once did she let me give
up and exhibited such patience with me. She encouraged me and said we WILL make
it to the top of the mountain. She said we had come too far to turn around and
give up. It was a very vulnerable moment for me and she saw I literally had no
strength. She could have easily left and discouraged me but she decided to
be a true friend and sister and stuck by my side. She asked me if I prayed and she knew that when
I was experiencing severe pain. I knew she was praying for me.
I kept apologizing to her because I
knew I was holding up the process of us getting to the top. She said “when you hurt, I hurt. I am not
going anywhere without you”. Those words immediately gave me strength to
continue. I am incredibly blessed and grateful for her friendship. This is
something I will never forget.
Everyone needs Godly and loyal friends.
Friends that will have you’re back in tough times, especially in this Christian
walk. She had my back and in life we
need people like this, to help us when we are down and vulnerable. She would
not let me give up. We need to surround ourselves with people who will not let
us give up on this walk with Christ. It gets EXTREMELY tough sometimes and
surrounding yourself with people who will walk with you is what you need. They
hurt when you hurt, they laugh when you laugh, they cry when you cry, they
rejoice when you rejoice.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore
we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us
run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God.”
We are all running this race together.
We need to not let one another stop because a trial is thrown in their path,
but rather encourage and lift them up when they are on their knees.
After many water breaks and sitting
down, we finally made it!!!!!!!!! We made it the top of the mountain! I have
never been so happy in my life! In my struggle, I made it and with the help of
my friend, I made it! All that pain that I was going through, was totally worth
it once we reached the top. I overlooked all of God’s creation and was in awe.
I forgot about the pain for a second and just marveled.
Everyone, after trials and
tribulations, finally get to the top of the mountain. We make it to victory and
freedom. James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must
finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
God uses our trials to make us more
like Him. We become stronger and develop more faith in Him and trust. God
brings victories to our lives to show us that He is in control that He has
heard our prayers and that His perfect will, will always be accomplished.
Did not realize that this hiking trip
would turn into God teaching me something. Then again God is always speaking and teaching
us, whether or not we listen or respond is another question….
I am grateful for this experience and I
will forever remember it and the lessons I learned from it. Today was really hard for me but I truly can do ALL things
through Christ who strengthens me.
Besos,
Kay Godd <3
