It was so muddy!
We woke up that morning and rain was pounding outside the window. It had rained for days before our arrival. We wondered if we had traveled to paradise, only to be trapped in the small room we were staying.
We had two choices: stay hunkered down or make it an adventure.
So, out we went! I don’t usually equate adventure with mud, but that’s what greeted us. Lots and lots of slippery, thick mud. Mud that sucks your shoes in and won’t let go. Mud that pulls you in up to your knees. Mud that tries to throw you off narrow paths into the cascading water below.
We hiked all week. Some of the hikes seemed almost impossible due to how steep they were, and when you added slippery mud, it became both amazing and bit scary.
At one point I fell into a crater. My hands and arms were muddy. My knees were bruised. My hair hung in my face, for my hands were so muddy I couldn’t touch it with my fingers.
Eventually we reached the falls. I had climbed over thick vines. My socks and shoes were destroyed. The mud tried to pull me down. But my feet had stayed on the path! I held my arms up and soaked in the cascading, thunderous water fall.
It was worth it.
Every step. Every hurdle. Every plunk in the mud.
Can I share something? Right now, our faith feels like it is on slippery ground.
The current culture of debate and discord has the potential to pull us under, throw us off track, and may even cause us to want to give up. It feels even more slippery because much of the discord is coming from within.
In times like this, it would be easy to take our eyes off Jesus’ words:
He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” John 7:38 (AMP)
It’s important, more than ever, that we keep our eyes on Jesus.
Faith is the greatest gift, but it’s also hard at times. It’s sacrificial. Jesus asks that we carry our cross, and that’s not an easy ask. It’s more than Sunday school and driving to a church on Sunday morning. It’s our life. It’s our very being, as we call ourselves believers and Christ followers.
The mission that Jesus spoke of in Luke 4:18-19 has not gone away. There’s still a world to love. A message to share.
Jesus never called us to point out everything that is wrong with others, but to step into those gaps and bring light. To be world changers. To love tangibly. To be “strong and immovable” (1 Corinthians 15:58) and to understand that nothing we do for the Lord is ever in vain. So, when it feels slippery, and the enemy whispers, “just give up.”
We say no.
We keep our feet on the path. If we fall down, we get up again. We keep our eyes firmly fixed on the living water that is our Savior, and we keep going.
We praise him for the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.
We find joy in the harder paths, for that is where we learn how to trust him.
We are shaped, carved, molded and refined as we hold fast to him in the adventurous walk that is faith.
After clambering down the steep path, we climbed in our kayaks and headed toward shore.
I was wet. Dirty beyond belief. But happy. Thankful. Grateful.
I think one day we’ll feel the same when we stand before our Savior, and he looks at our hard, wonderful journey and says, “Good job, daughter You stayed the course.”
That will be our reward, yes. But the reward of walking with him in the slippery mess that is our world is also great, for as we follow him:
We learn how to trust.
How to keep going.
How to mature spiritually.
How to overcome that which is hard.
How to hold our tongue.
How to speak truth with gentle and discerning boldness.
How to love well.
How to forgive others, and ourselves.
How to choose what is eternal over what matters little.
And so much more. . .
If faith feels slippery to you right now, I want to pray with you.
My greatest hope is that faith transcends from a chore or impossible task to an adventure. That, as you follow Jesus, you’ll be drenched in living water over your thoughts, heart, and life.
And that it will splash out of you onto those around you, for that is the adventure of faith.
Suzie
As I hiked the steep, slippery path I learned that I had to stay focused on my feet or I would fall. It’s not that I couldn’t enjoy the scenery, but I couldn’t get caught up in feelings (fear), or on the rushing water below. As long as I watched where my feet were placed, I had the best chance of staying on the path.
Read Proverbs 4:18-26
Q: When it comes to faith, describe one way to remain focused and aware of where you are going.
Related Resources
- Our Oh-So-Shaky Stand of Faith (blog post)
- When you feel less than strong (blog post)
- Listen to this similar message with Suzie on YouTube
If you are looking for a book that will challenge you and encourage you in the adventure of following Jesus, this is your resource!
Come With Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Jesus
“Every once in a while, God brings along a book you desperately need. Suzie Eller’s Come With Me brought a clarity and focus I’ve prayed for, reminding me that I don’t have to have all the answers . . . that I don’t need to figure out which way to go. My only job is to follow Jesus. He’ll take care of the rest.”–Joanna Weaver, author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
Thank you for sharing your ‘adventure’ with us, Suzie.
As it is Good Friday, the image of Jesus asking us to carry his cross is ever so poignant. What does that look like in our everyday life? Your pictures of the mud and also the shear joy on your face in the kayak are perfect illustrations of what it looks like to carry that cross. There will be times of utter defeat and messy mud and then the joy of being in His will and enjoying all He has for us. Thank you for your constant reminders to follow our Lord no matter what.
I loved this message Suzie and I love the pictures! Oh how I needed to be reminded to just be myself whatever life throws my way!
Life isn’t perfect. Living life is hard!
Thank you Jesus for being my Rock!
Thank you Jesus for being my Guide in this world that is so terribly overwhelming at times! and
Thank You Jesus for always calling me back into Your Protection and Love when I have wandered off the path.
Suzie, this is so timely for me right in this very moment. I love Jesus and have for a long time. I’m a Bible study leader, I write (I’m a member of Compel), my husband and I raised a strong willed son and not only did we all survive, but he has recognized God’s hand on his life and is now living for Him. We know what it is to feel desperate and want to give up and we know what it is to stay the course and now taste the fruits of our labor with our son. But we are all susceptible to a weakened faith and today has been tough. Our daughter has anxiety and has struggled with depression this last year. We know what it is to feel helpless as we watch and we know that depression can take on many forms, one being anger and outbursts at those who happen to be standing closest. We’ve seen her take two steps forward and one step back in the last few months and it’s good. She’s getting there. But today. She has been triggered today and I am her punching bag and most days we wade through the mud together but today…today I’ve cried for her again as well as myself. I told the Lord about an hour ago that I was bringing her to His feet, yet again, but I heard a tone in my voice of frustration and weariness. This reminder from you today is specific to what I needed. Thank you.
I am in a period of healing from major surgery, rehab has been very painful but through it all I feel closer to Jesus than ever before. I am not spending as much time formally in the word, I’m havong trouble focusing but spending a lot of time praying for others and in the very difficult times during rehab or walking with temporary pain or not sleeping at all I cry out “Jesus help me, I can’t do this alone but with you I can. I get through each and every day because He is carrying me through and has blessed me with an awesome husband as my primary care taker. I keep telling myself this temporary pain will make me stronger for eternal things to come. Keep your eyes on Jesus and have a blessed Easter.
This beautiful devotion spoke words of hope in a moment where I feel like giving up. Hopelessness covers me like a blanket as I try to find joy and lean on the faith I know during a season that has gripped my heart with despair. Most days I’m good but there are those days like today where things just don’t start out right….a hurricane and empty nest holds a tight grip. Still waiting for my home to be repaired, anxiety and frustration take root. Trying to overcome my daughter moving to London and my son moving out has left me wondering if the sun will shine on my world again. My daughter moved two weeks before a hurricane hit followed by my college age son moving out. It’s been tough, all this letting go. I grasp hold of all the sweet moments where I see the hand of God and I can testify He is so good. Being in His presence refreshes my soul and He reminds me of His precious thoughts towards me. I fight back with truth and prayer and He is always faithful. But today I must admit, it’s a hard one. It’s Easter weekend and my family is not together, my home is not restored, and I’m sad….feelings creep in and I lean in close to Jesus for comfort. I am thankful in this moment at how he spoke to me through your words and I trust He will restore all the broken pieces of my heart.
Hang in there! I understand the feeling of being alone. I am working this Sunday and it will be the first Easter Sunday in more than 25 years that I will miss. I am also away from family that I miss dearly. God has us wrapped tightly in his arms. Much Love to you and hang on to his promises❤️
thank you.
Love this Suzie. I keep hearing your words “stay the course…stay the course.” Exactly what I needed this morning. Thank you! ♥️
I too needed to hear this. I am on a two week vacation away from taking care of my very ill mom. So much sadness as we plod along together her and I. So hard to keep us both uplifted. That is God’s job but so very hard at times. We pray together and talk. What is your plan Lord? I have talked with him so many times. Just stay the course he says. And so we are.
A time of grief has put me on that slippery slope of faith. In the midst of my sinking the message has been clear……”Just believe!” Don’t understand? Just believe! Hurting? Just believe? Doubting? Just believe. Thank you for these timely, encouraging words, Cindy