Cooper’s Rock State Park, one of our new-found hiking destinations. Although we have known of its presence since we moved to West Virginia almost 3 years ago, we never visited…until last week. Now I’m addicted. Hiking is so close at hand! I can be on a trail in under 30 minutes.

I went trail hiking with my boys today and ended up off the trail. Well, we were on a trail, just not one that was marked. We just started talking and ended up on a different path. It happens.

Somehow, we ended up on a fairly rocky, mildly difficult, hiking trail. I’m not complaining. I actually perform better when there is a challenge to what I am undertaking. A slight risk, chance for danger, failure, or elevated expectations. Naturally, I was eager to undertake the challenge. My boys, however, were concerned about the ability of their mom to undertake the rocky path. They tried to convince me that we should turn around and follow the path back the way we came. I disagreed. “Watch out boys, I got this.” And I did. It was great fun!

I will admit though, at one point we had a rather steep climb up some very rocky terrain. I wasn’t daunted by the challenge, but I was a little fearful of my clumsiness causing me to stumble down the side of the cliff.

Obviously, I survived. 3 miles of hiking completed, and no one was injured. That’s a success in my book.

Of course, I found this a living example of life that could be tied to God’s Word.

The book of Esther tells a wonderful story of how God used a lone girl to save the Jewish race. In order to do so, she had to fight back her fear. She had to face the unknown with courage and understand that God was working in the situation. God would intervene for His chosen people. He always does. God loves to use human vessels to accomplish His plans, but we aren’t always so willing to be used.

Just like hiking, sometimes we want to turn around. The path we’ve already crossed is known, unlike the path ahead that we can’t fully see. Danger could be ahead. Pain. Heartache. Disappointment.

But in the words of Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

So, keep climbing. Regardless of how difficult the trail looks ahead. Regardless of how daunting the task may seem. Regardless of all the questions flooding your mind, the concerns others mention, the fear in your heart. What has God asked you to do?

Keep climbing. Keep reaching. Don’t turn back. Don’t give up. Follow hard after God. Get exhausted. Get weary. Push through the pain. Push through the emotions. If you are certain He has called you to it, He WILL see you through it. Just keep climbing.