Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done…were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
(Ps 40:5)
We are supposed to tell others what God has done for us. In fact, I cannot and will not stop proclaiming His Name!
Last week I told you of an event when God miraculously protected me in a fall. This week I want to tell you about another very recent event while I hiking up a mountain.
God’s Glorious Protection
My hiking buddy, Darlene, and I recently went on a 3-day hiking trip in the Shenandoah National Park. We had been dreaming of hiking to the top of Hawksbill summit, the highest peak in the park at 4049 feet to see the sunset. That would require hiking down in the dark with headlamps—scary, but fun. I had done it once before and felt comfortable to do it again provided the trail down wasn’t too steep or rocky.
Based upon my friend’s recollection of a previous hike up Hawksbill, we selected a 3-mile loop, with the descent being only 1 mile long and relatively easy.
After hiking 20-30 minutes, I suddenly realized I had forgotten my headlamp! However, Darlene reassured me it would be ok because her headlamp lights a very broad area. As she remembered it, the path down was wide enough to hike side by side. After a bit more reassurance from my trusted friend, I decided to go through with our original plan.
As we continued to climb though, people kept saying, “You’re almost there!” That was really strange since we had only gone less than a mile of a supposed 2-mile trek to the top. We soon discovered they were right when we saw the beautiful view open up before us!
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It was obvious at this point that the trail going down was not the same one Darlene had done before.
Therefore, I was adamant about not going down in the dark without a headlamp on a completely unknown trail to both of us. Darlene tried to convince me otherwise, but I was immovable. I suggested that she could stay and watch the sunset, but I would start down now and meet her at the car. I simply would not do it. Period.
At first I thought it was just my fear rearing its ugly head again. Plus, there were absolutely no clouds which would result in a less-than-spectacular sunset. But even if it was spectacular, it wouldn’t be worth it because fear robs us of all joy and peace.
She finally agreed and we proceeded down the unfamiliar 2-mile trail.
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It was a good thing too! At about halfway down we encountered several old rockslide sections. The first one was interesting to see and not to tricky to cross—at least in the light. |
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The second one, however, had quite a few wobbly rocks. How treacherous it would have been without a clear light on my path! Even in the light I was greatly afraid.
Thankfully, we had encountered Joe and Gracie, a much younger couple from Texas, with whom we were hiking at that point. Joe offered his help and I accepted with much gratitude!
God had orchestrated this entire event. He was protecting us. He was the One who made me forget my headlamp. He was the One who brought this couple from Texas. He was the One who used my fear as a warning not to hike in the dark.
And you know what else? Joe and Gracie were new believers in Christ Jesus. So we were able to encourage them in their newfound faith.
Only God can do stuff like this!
Some people might say I’m over-spiritualizing these events. They can believe that if they want. But God is sovereign and in control of all things (Job 23:14, Dan 2:21, Dan 5:23). I know in my heart that God orchestrated all these details, because my faithful God has come through for me countless times before. In fact, I had a wonderful sense of peace going down that mountain even before we hit the rockslide section. When it dawned on me that it was God who made me forget my headlamp, I felt His special care and protection of me, His precious daughter. And I know He will do the same for you! Open your eyes so you can tell others how He has protected you.
My friend, the view at the top of Hawksbill during the day was great, a sunset would have been better, but getting a glimpse of God and how He works was glorious!
Relevant Resources
God Protects Us
10 Ways to Recognize God’s Little Miracles in Our Lives
Scripture taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV. ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.(NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.