I never feel closer to God than when I find myself outdoors in his creation. My family and I recently headed out into the mountains, and I found myself surrounded by breathtaking waterfalls and enormous cliffs. Psalm 65 says, “You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations. Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.”
We each have different pathways to find that closeness with God. If mosquitoes and the lack of WiFi are a non-starter, you may find that solitude or worship music are ways that you can spend time with him. I encourage you to find the pathway that works for you and intentionally schedule some time. We can make those moments a priority in our lives and find ourselves refreshed and equipped to handle the everyday challenges of life.
On the trip, I was excited to spend some time fishing. The river I found was beautiful, yet challenging. The banks were covered with dense, thorny bushes. There was no way to fish from the bank, so I had to head out into the river. The ice-cold water was a few feet deep and quite swift. The riverbed was packed with large smooth rocks, hiding crevices and trenches waiting to swallow an ankle. It took me a solid hour of hard work just to make it through some rapids to a place that I could find steady enough footing to start fishing. I found myself immediately talking to God. I began asking for his wisdom and guidance, releasing the burdens of the hardships in my life, and trusting that he has everything under control. I could feel the weight come off of my shoulders. I found my empty tank refilled. I noticed the sun was getting low and I needed to find my way out of the river before it was dark. I scanned the river banks for an easy spot to climb out but only saw sheer drop-offs lined with those dense, thorny bushes. I would need to backtrack to find a way out. Fear started to creep in. “What if it gets dark? What if I turn my ankle and can’t get out?” So I took a breath and just asked for God’s guidance. I asked that he would help me take it slow and steady and to lead the way. I worked my way closer to the shoreline, trying to find rocks and branches to help steady myself as I forged through the river. No exaggeration, seconds after I prayed that God would continue to provide a way out, I tugged at a branch on the shoreline, and I kid you not, out came a perfect walking stick. In that moment, I was reminded of the staff of the Lord given to Moses. Having that staff to guide the way and give me balance, got me out of the river with minimal difficulty. In Psalm 121, we find the praise, “I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!”
Looking back on that little adventure, I realized this: it took me five times longer to navigate the same stretch of river by myself than when I looked to God for guidance and help. We are not meant to forge through life under our own will and power. God is so good and has a plan for you and wants to provide for your every need. Just reach out to him. What areas in your life today could you use a walking staff from God? Ask him to provide that steadiness that you can lean on. Ask him to take the weight off of your shoulders that you have been carrying by yourself.