Lessons from Hiking

I’ve never been one to over-spiritualize the details of life…actually, it’s one of my pet peeves, to be honest. If I were not a Christian, and someone told me that God had ordained their parking spot at the grocery store, I would seriously be weirded out and probably question, not only their faith, but also their sanity. However, that being said, God showed me one small detail after another while we hiked at Mount Rainier this weekend (and I promise my faith is in no way a crutch, and I’m fairly sane).

Here are just a few of the lessons God poignantly spoke to me:

1. I can bring life out of death.

Actually, that’s what God’s best at! If He can take an old, dead tree stump and cause new growth to come from it, He can certainly do the same in my life – in our marriage, in our family, in my broken heart. God brings beauty from ashes. He can redeem any situation in our lives if we willingly give it over to Him. I can trust Him to bring life out of our situation.

2. You grow strongest in the valleys of life.

As we hiked along the river, I noticed over and over that the trees that grew lowest in the valley and closest to the water had the deepest roots and flourished. They were even a different color than the trees that grew further up the hillside because they were so healthy. So, as much as I hate being in this valley, God is deepening and strengthening my roots – my trust in Him, my marriage, my resilience. It hurts, but I still praise Him for His life-changing work in my life.

3. I’m making you who I know you can be.

The stones in the river that were most smooth and polished were that way only because the river had pounded over them again and again. It reminded me of this song by Nichole Nordeman:

Rolling River God, little stones are smooth

Only once the water passes through

So, I am a stone, rough and grainy still

Trying to reconcile this river’s chill

But when I close my eyes, and feel You rushing by

I know that time brings change, and change takes time

And when the sunset comes, my prayer would be this one

That You might pick me up and notice that I am

Just a little smoother in Your hand

Sometimes raging wild, sometimes swollen high

But never have I know this river dry

The deepest part of You is where I long to stay

And feel the sharpest edges wash away.