Go the Distance!

The true test of endurance does not come when we are comfortably sitting on the Lazy Boy without a worry in the world. No, the test comes when we are faced with what seems impossible; when we are exhausted and everything inside is telling us to give up, turn back or sell out. I have found that those moments of testing are crossroads in our lives that required a line to be drawn in the sand, where we make the decision to go the distance, to suck it up and to push through! Because giving up is a choice.

Earlier this year I was at a crossroads, a place of many changes, a place where I had to soul-search about direction in ministry, a place to decide do I give up or do I push through. In the middle of this the Lord was putting on my heart the desire to hike the Grand Canyon…again. A scary thought when you consider two years ago I hike the Canyon and almost didn’t make it out. It was 115 degrees at the canyon floor that day and I was not prepared for a hike like this. Although I eventually made it out of the canyon I was a mess. I had heat exhaustion, I was dehydrated, the build up of lactic acid in my muscles made it difficult to bend my legs. My husband faithful stayed by my side helping out of the canyon one grueling step at a time. I had only hiked 8 miles but it had taken me 16 hours.

Ladies, there are times when we just don’t make it, we sin, we fail and we feel horrible about ourselves. But God waits patiently for us to heal up, to trust Him, to finally say yes to the risk and He gives us new opportunities and that is exactly what happened to me.

In January 2012 I began training, I prayed, lost weight, worked seriously hard for another chance at the canyon. This time I would hike 12.2 miles, descending and climbing almost 4,000 feet of elevation each way. For me this was more than a physical accomplishment; it was something I believed I was supposed to do and I believed God had something to show me.

We hit the trail at 7:30 a.m. ready to go. The hike was amazing. The view spectacular! The last 4.5 miles of the hike is called Jacob’s ladder and it is 3000 feet of arduous switchbacks. I was doing great when all of a sudden I started getting leg cramps. Those old feelings of defeat tried to flood my thoughts. Immediately 1 Samuel 30:6 came to me, “And David encouraged himself in the Lord!” I had to dig deep, push through the emotions and pain, the ridicule of the enemy and find courage to go the distance and trust God. This beautiful 80 year old woman who had been hiking her whole life quickly came to my rescue, elevating my legs and the cramps disappeared. A man walked by and said, “In Jesus name be healed!” My husband faithfully stayed with me! I realized God was showing me, that if I would make a stand, He would bring the support I needed.  At 3:30 p.m., eight hours later, 12.2 mile covered I hiked out of the canyon! This moment was mine.

Perhaps you are at a crossroads, life is hard, marriage is hard, your kids are hard, and you are tired. Remember giving up is a choice just like pushing through. I encourage you, draw the line in the sand! Go the distance! And that moment of victory will be yours.

 

As always from my heart to yours,

DaNetta