What am I doing in the middle of the woods, I must be nuts. But it’s so peaceful and beautiful. This pack is heavy. You’re doing great. My feet are tired. You’re strong and prepared, you can do this. I’m getting bored. Set your mind on something else. It’s lonely out here. You’re never alone. I’m never alone? No, you’re never alone.

These thoughts ran through my head during my first solo hike of Revelation Wellness Outdoor Leadership Training. For the first few minutes of the hike, I doubted myself and lifted my fears to God. For roughly the next mile, the LORD shared his goodness with me and it has stuck with me ever since. 

My love for the outdoors began when I was about six years old. I lived in St. Croix briefly with my grandparents. My grandfather lived near the beach and I could see the ocean from his doorstep. That was my first recollection of having the freedom to spend hours outdoors. 

When I became an adult, I moved just far enough from where I grew up in New York City, so that I could have the best of both worlds. I commuted to work and at the end of the day, I drove through the mountains and the valley to return home. As much as I loved the outdoors and the beauty I witnessed every day, it wasn’t until I learned to intentionally move my body as an act of worship that I began to connect to God in his creation. When Revelation Wellness announced the outdoor leadership training I was excited, to say the least. The RevWild training was intense, but the most challenging part was the first time I went hiking alone in the woods. I was nervous, but I knew that if I didn’t do it I’d fall behind. 

That brings me back to my conversation with God. As I was walking with my weighted pack, I was complaining about hiking alone. That’s when God said, you are never alone and began to unpack the statement.

“You are never alone because I am always with you. Even when you can’t see me I’m with you. I’m here with you and you don’t have to be afraid of loneliness. You’re not by yourself.” I was overcome with joy. I realized that the LORD cares about me enough to spend a few hours walking and reading trail markings with me. He was keeping me safe and calming my mind from worries. My demeanor became playful and childlike. I literally imagined Yeshua was hiking with me and I was challenging him to keep up. After all, he was an expert at long hikes on unpaved roads. Then I began to sing out loud. I can’t remember the song, but I know I sang it joyfully over and over. 

When I traveled to Colorado the following month to complete the RevWild training I felt the presence of the LORD. I was sitting in the meadow, praying and meditating when I heard what I would describe as a low rustling coming toward me through the trees. It was the wind, but more than the wind. The sound grew louder as it rushed past me rustling the trees as it swept by. I knew it was the presence of the LORD. I thought this must have been what it was like to be in the Garden and wait for the LORD to visit in the cool of the day. 

When we enter into the presence of the LORD, we will need to face our fears. It’s in the middle of those fears that the LORD will come alongside us.

“But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 52:12 NIV