Heather's life changed when she obeyed God's gentle invitation to hike the Grand Canyon
Wild Obedience.
This phrase makes me think of Noah – building a boat because this new thing called “rain” was coming.
It makes me think of Abraham getting ready to sacrifice Isaac.
It reminds me of David confronting a giant with only a sling and 5 stones.
It stirs to me to recall Elijah opposing over 400 false prophets and pouring WATER on his sacrifice.
All the Old Testament prophets and New Testament disciples – their lives and actions – were WILD and OBEDIENT.
But I have discovered that occasionally wild obedience comes in the form of a gentle invitation from the Father.
My husband and I have been a part of Revelation Wellness’ Rim 2 Him since 2016. I have volunteered quite a few times on the hospitality team, caring for the hikers before and after the hike. Though I wasn’t hiking, I genuinely loved every part of it.
When someone asked if I would ever hike the canyon myself, my emphatic answer was “ONLY IF GOD MAKES ME.” I had very truly NO desire to hike across the GRAND CANYON in one day. I mean…in one day? 23 miles? Why in the world would I do that?
Invited to Obey
My call to wild obedience began in 2018. My husband and I were once again serving for Rim to Him – my husband as a shepherd, leading the hikers through the Grand Canyon, and me on the hospitality team.
As we were looking over the Canyon and serving the hikers as they came out, I had a small thought – “hmmm what if…” I quickly brushed it off and enjoyed the remaining days with the team and hikers.
Fast forward to the following registration period. I got the information and felt a gentle press on my heart – Would you like to hike the Grand Canyon with Me?
Not a command, but an invitation.
Obeying God Changed My Life
Would I like to train and hike Rim to Rim across the Grand Canyon at the invitation of the One who made it? Yes. Yes, I actually would!
Much to my husband’s delight, I signed up the next day and completed the hike in the fall of 2019.
During training, God pressed into some really broken and insecure places in me. Each training hike was a choice to open my heart and respond in repentance and renew my mind, OR stuff it and just MAKE it through the long miles. It took wild obedience to put one foot in front of the other, on the grassy hills of Nebraska, crying, sweating, and responding to how the Holy Spirit pointed out the places that needed freeing.
My experience in the canyon was an utter delight. The wonder of God’s creation – His nearness – and His beauty is on display there like no other place I have been. Following His prompting to enter the Grand Canyon quite literally changed my life.
What soft invitations from the Lord have turned into places of wild obedience for you?
When I felt the invitation to enter the canyon, I knew that I genuinely had the choice; He was pleased with me either way. Saying YES turned into a wide-open space of obedience that has borne much FRUIT in my life – even today.
How is the Lord inviting YOU to obey Him? What wild canyon (or relationship or business or book or …?) is He inviting you to join Him in?
All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
Heather is a daughter of the King, wife to Chuck Johnson, momma to three precious children, and FTGP from Platoon 003. She serves gratefully as the Director of Culture and is delighted to see people grow in Christ and their own destinies.
