Stay On The Path
By Jamie Kent
One of my favorite things to do in the spring is to take a Saturday and go for a hike — not necessarily for exercise, but to get away from the familiar and to hear the voice of the Lord. I pack only the essentials: water, sunscreen, phone, Bible, and a notebook. No agenda, no distractions, no plan, no rushing — just me and God. I call these days a “Silent Saturday.”
I tell only a few people where I’m going and how long I’ll be unplugging from the world. When I arrive, and I’m ready to begin, I pray, asking for safety, guidance, and that my heart and mind will be open to whatever God wants to show me. Then I begin my hike in silence, listening only to what’s around me and to the Holy Spirit. I continue along the trails until I feel a gentle nudge to stop. When I do, I pull out my Bible and journal and start writing what I’m seeing and what the Lord is telling me.
On one Silent Saturday, I booked an overnight room at a Christian camp so I wouldn’t have to drive a long distance the next morning. In my room was a guest book where previous visitors had written notes — where they were from and how God had spoken to them during their time at the camp. Several notes pointed me to the Mount Tabor Trail, raving about the views. So Saturday morning, I woke up early, grabbed my backpack, and headed out.
When I stepped off the main road and onto the Mount Tabor Trail, the path was wide and lush. But as I continued into the woods, it quickly narrowed. If I wasn’t paying close attention — if I drifted too far left or right — I was going to walk straight into a cactus patch. At one point, the clear path was only as wide as my foot. I considered turning around, but the Holy Spirit kept calling me forward.
Soon the path turned rocky and steep, but I kept going — and I’m so glad I didn’t turn back. As I crested the hill, I stopped in my tracks. I was standing on top of a cliff, and suddenly everything came into view: rolling meadows stretching as far as the eye could see, the brightest blue sky I’d ever seen, and far below, a peaceful river cutting through the middle of it all. I found a large rock, set down my backpack, and just stood there in awe. I pulled out my Bible and read Genesis 1 aloud — “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” — and it was as if those words leapt off the page. I could have sat on that rock all day. But the heat was climbing, and my water was running low, so I began my descent. As I walked back, I felt lighter. The path didn’t seem as intimidating anymore, and I carried an important truth in my heart: Stay on the path.
God has carved out a path for each of us — one He wants us to walk. It is narrow, and it is not the path of the world.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Anyone can walk the broad path, because it’s the easy way out. But the broad path leads to a dead end — a place where we find ourselves lost and alone. It’s a crowded path, and we’ll often see friends and loved ones walking it. We may want to join them. But we must not give in to that temptation. It can be especially hard when we watch others get the promotion, the raise, or the worldly success we thought we wanted. As followers of Christ, we have to remember that the world’s definition of success is not God’s definition. The broad path promises happiness, but the longer we stay on it, the more we miss the blessings God has waiting for us.
Karl Clauson writes in The 7 Resolutions: “He’s got a plan, and He wants you to follow it. You never have to settle for too little again. There’s a higher calling than focusing your life on what’s popular, accepted, politically correct, or even expected of you. […] when you open God’s Word, clear your mind and seek truth, and believe He wants to grow you, you can know His will and go His way.”
The narrow path, on the other hand, requires faith, obedience, and perseverance. And the longer we walk it, the more those qualities grow and flourish in us. There will be difficult stretches — moments when we want to turn back. But we must press on, even when the way is hard.
Romans 5:3-4 reminds us: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us — they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.”
For those who have surrendered to Christ, we know that the end of the narrow path holds a reward greater than anything we could imagine: eternal life with God! That truth makes the narrow path worth every difficult step — and suddenly, it doesn’t seem so intimidating after all.
One more comfort: when I’m out hiking, I’m never truly alone. At any moment, I might come upon a fellow hiker on the trail. The narrow path is the same way. We will run into fellow believers along the way, and there is great comfort in knowing we don’t walk alone. So — who can you link arms with today? Who can you walk the narrow path alongside?
May you have the courage and perseverance to reach the prize!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Jamie Kent
PS- The picture at the top of the post was the view at the top of the cliff. You can also see just how close the cactus was to the path!
Application:
Where are you on the path right now?
What is making the narrow path feel difficult in this season?
Who is walking the narrow path alongside you?
Jamie Kent works in a Community Recreation Center and plans and implements programs for senior adults, children, and families. She also leads Bible studies, mentors young women, and helps lead worship. She holds a Master’s Degree in Ministry Leadership from Moody Theological Seminary, and her passion is to help others grow in their faith. Jamie resides in Waco, Texas, and in her free time, she enjoys playing guitar and crafting.