THE 18 MILE HIKE

The climb was getting harder. It wasn’t his left leg that was hurting. It was the right one. Was this a good idea? It had been six months since his accident. But, it was time to climb out of the valley and move to the top of the mountain. With each step Jake was reminded of laying on the street, wondering if he was going to be ok; the days of being in the trauma unit, not being able to get up; going from the bed, to a wheelchair and moving into our home for recovery; the dark moments of wishing he had died to asking the inevitable “why?”. When I prayed for Jake the Lord said “ he must stay in the Valley for a time”. Have you ever asked yourself that same question? Why did this have to happen? What good can come out of this? Some people believe God is testing them, to see if they will succeed or fail. But that was not Gods purpose. It isn’t to see if you will fail, but rather to see if you will grow….deeper. It is in the valley where there are no distractions…or noise…or direction. It is a place to wait, to experience God himself. And so Jake wrote that very thing. He shares that it was in his pain where he met Jesus. Jesus showed Jake love in no other way any human could. Jesus showed up everyday, every night, through all the physical therapy sessions, the loneliness, the loss of purpose, the financial worries, his worth. With each step Jake and the rest of his good friends, climbed Mt. Baldy. After 18 miles they finished the hike. It was grueling at times, but, with the strength and encouragement of each other, they made it. As Jake learned, God doesn’t keep you in the valley forever…just long enough to strengthen your roots into a solid foundation with Christ. Wherever your path is right now, if your still waiting in the valley, or moving up the mountain, Jesus is right there, next to you, never to leave you or forsake you. As it says in Isaiah 30:21 “ This is the way; walk in it”. I will end with Jakes last words he wrote about his hike saying “ If your’e going through hell, keep on going. Jesus loves you”… I couldn't have said it any better…..