When I went on my first hike in 2016, I know I had to do something more than eating, sitting, lying down, and doing simple house chores. Leg workouts. Squats. Jogging. And, I was back to my sedentary lifestyle. Lately, I have noticed how my belly is starting to form, and my metabolism is beginning to slow down. This wild phenomenon urges me to finally do something more active. And so I “try” to “exercise”. After two years and five months, I got to step on a mountain again — and it was two mountains this time.
How Prepared Are You?
When it comes to the trail, the 2016 hike was more difficult for me since it involved rock climbing. We had to wear gloves because we needed to hold on to the rocks as we climbed up and down. This hike, although it was but a long walk and a few assaults, seemed to be just as hard, because it felt like my first again.
Whether you’re a mountaineer or a couch potato, there’s always a mountain to climb in life. The question is, how prepared are you to face it? Where do you get your strength? Who are you climbing this mountain with? That mountain of depression? Debt? Broken relationships? Poor school and work performance?
Whether you’re a mountaineer or a couch potato, there’s always a mountain to climb in life.
Life’s mountains aren’t always physical but spiritual. So, as you need to physically prepare for a hike, you definitely would need spiritual training to conquer the spiritual ones. And just as you need discipline in doing a physical exercise, hearing God’s Word, reading the Bible, praying, and fasting, among others, would require discipline, too.
What Slows You Down?
We were 17 in the group with three female (!!!) local guides with us. I was the slowest one. I initially blamed my bag for it. It looked and weighed like I was staying at the summit overnight. Even before we reached half of the trail, I wanted to drag it along already just so I can walk without anything on my back. One of my guy friends offered to switch bags but I refused, telling him that I can still bear it. He then insisted to take one of my 1L water bottle instead to ease the weight a little.
Then there’s the heat, the uphill climb, my feet getting uncomfortable with my shoes, and the exhaustion all together. I know though that I can’t use all of these excuses to justify how slow I was. It was a challenge for my friends, too. After the hike, I realized that I didn’t need everything I placed in my bag. In relation to our life’s mountains, there are unnecessary things that we carry on our way up, too. The heat, the uphill climb, and the exhaustion are all a part of this. These are the things that are outside of our control but there are things that we can manage. What do you need to let go of so that you can climb up more easily? Distractions? Addictions? Unforgiveness?
There are unnecessary things that we carry on our way up.
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
Throw them off, and then keep moving.
Slowly But Surely
Even with one less water bottle in my bag, I was still the last one to arrive at every rest station, every peak, and every summit. My friends started teasing me when they have noticed the pattern. Some accurate calculations were made on how long it will take me to get to where they are. The ones who got to the rest stations, peaks, and summits first had a longer time of rest (and pictorials). As for me, I’d just have enough time to catch my breath, drink water and take a few pictures and videos. I attempted to walk faster but to no avail. While I was laughing along with their punch lines (it was legit funny), deep down, I was feeling bad about and a little annoyed at myself. Why can’t I keep up? Why am I so slow?
There were two mountains. I could’ve stopped and rested like some of my friends did after reaching the summit of the first mountain but I didn’t — even with knowing that the second one is higher. Thankfully, we were able to leave some of our things with those who no longer hiked up.
My feet hurt. I was thirsty and tired but I chose to persevere. I was slow but I still got to the top. And I want to give myself a pat on the back for it and give the praise to God who sustained me and brought me there.
Here’s what God taught me: Just because you’re walking slowly doesn’t mean that you will not get to where He wants you to be. It’s not relevant to know who gets to the top first, and who reaches it last. God did not design our lives to be a competition against one another. We have the same reward. He will never be after how fast you go up or how far you’ve gone. God is just there. Walking with you, and holding you by the hand.
Just because you’re walking slowly doesn’t mean that you will not get to where God wants you to be. He did not design our lives to be a competition against one another. We have the same reward.
You Will Not Be Left Behind
God met my slowness with His patience. While everybody else were waiting at the peaks, one of our tour guides (as part of her job to make sure that everybody gets to the destination safe and whole), and two guy friends stayed behind… pushed my bag up when I would almost slip, hold my hand as I take a difficult step, wait when I needed a few seconds to rest and sit. If not for these three, I’m not sure where I’d end up. They could’ve actually reached the top as fast as the others did, but there they were, lingering behind a human sloth. After getting down from the second mountain, I got to sit for less than five minutes and they headed out again. I told them to just go ahead and that I’ll catch up but one guy friend said, “Hindi ka naman namin pwedeng iwan dito.” (We can’t just leave you behind).😭😭😭 In those moments, I just saw God’s big, gracious, and loving heart towards His children. That even at the point of giving up, God will never leave them.
God meets our slowness with His patience.
Love, maybe you’ve been walking up that mountain for a long time now. Maybe you’re tired, too. Maybe you’re asking how much longer until you reach the summit. Maybe you don’t want to burden other people anymore, people who are willing to stay and help. But hey, I want you to know that God won’t leave you where you are. He is with you. He will wait until you find yourself back on your feet again, and He will be the one to provide you with the strength that you need.
Even at the point of giving up, God will never leave you. He will wait until you find yourself back on your feet again, and He will be the one to provide you with the strength that you need.
The Joy That Awaits
I pressed on to get up the mountains’ summits because I wanted to see its beauty. The sight was my motivation to press on. 2,000 years ago, Jesus seemed to have the “hike” of a lifetime, too. It was probably the longest walk that He had when He marched to Mount Calvary, the place where He was crucified. He didn’t have a heavy bag, but He bore a heavy cross. And what made that cross heavier was not the weight of the wood but the sins of the world — my sins, your sins, our sins.
Jesus didn’t walk to the place of His execution with a well-exercised body. He was beaten, tortured, crowned with thorns. But because of the joy that was set before Him, He endured it all — every painful step that led to His excruciating death. “For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 11:2 NIV)
What made Jesus’ cross heavier was not the weight of the wood
but the sins of the world.
The joy that awaited Jesus was to see you and me being reconciled to God. His joy was to do His Father’s will — to restore the intimate relationship that man once had with Him. His joy was to see sin being nailed at the cross and death being defeated at His feet. And it was His great love for you that kept Him going.
The joy that awaited Jesus was to see you being reconciled to God.
And it was His great love for you that kept Him going.
Whatever mountains you’re facing right now, it’s not something that Jesus can’t understand or sympathize with. You can surrender your burdens to Him and exchange it for His yoke that His easy and His burden that is light (Matthew 11:28-30). As you lay aside every weight, and as you fix your eyes on the joy set before you, which is Christ, you will definitely conquer those mountains, no matter how high or difficult they may seem.
Don’t lose heart, Love. You’ve got this… because God’s got you.
Here’s to more of those good slow climbs…
Chasing Sunsets, Crossing Oceans & Cradling Stars 