A few years ago while hiking in the Tetons, my husband and I drove down a largely-rutted dirt road to a trailhead where we had not hiked before. The road was not what I expected, but well, I chose to see it as part of the adventure. Surprisingly, there were a few other cars and trucks parked at the rather abandoned-looking trailhead that led to a small lake.
As
we began hiking, Bill realized that there were two different routes to
this lake, and he had downloaded the other trail in his hiking app. So
we could see where we were, but we could not see where we were going.
There was a trail before us, be it not what we intended, ascending to a
ridge, and it was a beautiful day for a hike. We chose to hike on.
After a mile or so of upward trekking, we reached the ridgeline, and a beautiful lake appeared below us. The trail continued, now steeply descending. I was not at all sure that I wanted to go down this now-rough trail. As we descended, all I could think about was that we were going to have to climb back up. It was not an easy path, and at parts we had to pick our way through rock slides.
A
few small snakes skittered across the trail. And downward we
continued, now through a fellowship of shade-giving trees, and then a
winding path through large unidentifiable bushes. The destination
continued to be a mystery as the trail was sometimes invisible beyond
just a few feet ahead. I was really unsure about finishing this hike,
where we were going, how we were going to get there, if the trail was
just going to dead-end, and what we would encounter on the way. Is this
hard trail going anywhere?
The trail leveled off, still surrounded by scrubland, heading now into a deep dark woods. Within about a quarter of a mile on this now-pine scented trail, an opening appeared, leading to the water's edge. A young woman was standing there, who had been camping close-by with her brother. She said nothing at first, but pointed to the beach. Two shy deer, oblivious to us, were tiptoeing along the strip of sand and gravel.
As
we emerged from the woods, God surprised us with His glory. Now, I was
the speechless one. It was like coming into the Presence of God.
My fear and trepidation evaporated into thin air. The trail had been difficult. But it was not random. It did not just lead somewhere. It led to this. Just because something is hard does not mean we are on the wrong path.
What I thought was ominous turned out to be glorious. It was not a fairy-tale happy ending but part of the journey right in the middle. God filled my heart with the strength to keep on keeping on.
It was not what I expected. It was even better.
The trail was the same, but I was changed. We still had a steep climb back up, but my heart was overflowing. I felt like God was saying to me, "Look beyond the rocks."
We
cannot see what is ahead. It may be unknown to us, but it is not
unknown to God. God brings His faithfulness to what transcends our
imagination and transforms what is before us into a sacred encounter.
Even today. Even in this.
And He whispers, "Do not be afraid. I am with you."
I saw an afternoon's outing, but God meant it for something much more.
And I will lead the blind
in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them
into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
and I do not forsake them.
Isaiah 42. 16
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