Tough Stuff

This picture is a trail. Seriously. This is the path I have to take.

Do you see a path?
I didn’t.

What you can't see is just how steep this trail is, about a 45 degree angle...

All I saw were rocks, boulders if you will, and this “path” looked more like the channel for water running down the mountain than a pathway for people attempting to climb to the top.

I stood there looking at it, thinking about myself and how ill prepared I was to scale this. Other hikers had passed me who were well prepared. They had packs, hiking boots, hats, and special hiking sticks.

I, however, was adorned in a sundress covering a swimsuit with my normal “running around on errands” gym shoes.

Yeah.
So not prepared for this.

I thought I was just heading for the beach – a little sun, a little snorkeling … instead I’m standing on the beginning of the Na Pali coastline in a dress and muddied shoes and holding a branch ripped off a tree root for my hiking stick.

My only choice was to move forward.
As I did, I found little muddy spots between the rocks to plant a foot. Gripping those little spaces and leaning on my sturdy stick amazingly got me up that rocky trail.

Remember the Israelites when they fled from Egypt? Here they are, the Red Sea in front of them, the Egyptian army behind them: they were trapped.

But then... “Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he does for his people! He made a dry path through the Red Sea and his people went across on foot.” Psalms 66:5,6

"Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!" Psalms 77:19

Don Moen has put this to music in his song:

“God will make a way, where there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide. Hold me closely to His side.
With love and grace for each new day.
He will make a way. He will make a way.”

I was not prepared. And the way I got up that rocky slide was not always pretty, but there was a way.

I face situations that look no different than the seemingly impassable path in this photo.

There is no way, and I do not have what I need to make it through this issue.

Yet God has promised.

He will make a way.

The Lord says,“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you” Psalms 32:8

“ The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalms 37: 23,24

“Being confident of this very thing that He that has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

“Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow” Psalms 25:4

“He will show them the path they should choose." Psalms 25:12

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

Okay then, if these are the promises that I'm taking with me, let’s go.