Exercising Faith in Christ

Several years ago, my husband and I hiked the Winner Creek trail located in Girdwood. As we began the journey, the route was flat and no obstacles were in our way. I could even breathe easily, and my heart rate was normal--which is not always the case when going on a walk in the woods with my husband. I felt grateful for the beauty that surrounded me. Then, I noticed the path was increasing in its degree of difficulty. It was no longer level, and there were rocks and roots to climb over. My breath became labored as we moved up the trail.

Halfway through the hike, we had to use a hand tram to pull ourselves across the creek. As we entered the little cage, I examined the rope and cable intended to support our weight over the ravine, and I began to pull us to the other side. As I gained momentum, my husband smiled and said, “You can do it!” With that kind of encouragement, my faith ignited and I continued pulling.

At first, it was easy. When we got halfway across the creek and my arms were getting tired and sore. I took a break from pulling and loosened my grip. As I did so, we started to slip backward. Clearly, I would lose ground and have to repeat my efforts if I did not hold on. I decided to tighten my grip again, and with all of my strength, I started to pull harder. My arms were becoming exhausted. As we neared our destination, the challenge intensified.

But my husband had said: “You can do it,” and I believed I could, even though there were times I felt like giving up and letting him pull for me. “Hold on,” I told myself. “Just hold on.” This ‘tug o war’ was about end. I pulled one last time as hard as I coulad, and we arrived safely on the other side of the creek. The joy of success was worth the struggle and the pain.

There are times when we must tighten our grip and keep holding on as we travel life’s path. Perhaps you are currently enduring a physical, emotional, or spiritual affliction. There may be days when you feel so tired that you consider letting go and giving up, but you’ve kept pulling and pressing forward. Why do we hold on? I believe it is because of our faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He is our source of strength, and I know that He strengthens us if we exercise faith in Him.

Jesus invites us to have faith in Him. The Savior says: “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23 KJV). Do we really believe He can do what He says He will do? I asked a friend of mine once if she believed in miracles, and she said, “Yes, but not for me.” In effect, I think what she was saying was, “I believe, but help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

If there is a time when we need to believe, it is when we are tired and we feel our grip slipping. When I have asked Heavenly Father for help, he has strengthened me. My faith grew as I listened to the encouragement of others, inspired by their experiences.

If you want to strengthen your faith, take small steps and press forward. Exercise takes work, hard work. You may even sweat and feel some pain along the path of developing faith in Christ. I know that exercising faith in Jesus Christ is worth the outcome. I have been strengthened and carried during my most challenging struggles in life by believing in the Savior’s redeeming love. He continues to redeem me daily as I exercise faith in Him. I know He will do the same for you.

Sometimes we fear failure and wonder ‘what if?” I’ve hiked many mountains with my husband that have required me to increase my faith. He always wants to explore more once we reach the top, and I’m usually ready to be finished. But I have discovered that the farther I go, the stronger my determination and ability become. It starts with that first step on the trail, with believing that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

“The Lord does not require perfect faith for us to have access to His perfect power. But He does ask us to believe…. through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life, even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest. Your mountains may be loneliness, doubt, illness, or other personal problems. Your mountains will vary, and yet the answer to each of your challenges is to increase your faith. That takes work. Lazy learners and lax disciples will always struggle to muster even a particle of faith. To do anything well requires effort. Becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ is no exception. Increasing your faith and trust in Him takes effort” (President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

Now is the time to put forth the effort needed to hold on, tighten our grip, and never let go of the Master’s hand. Our faith in Jesus Christ will carry us across rivers, up mountains, and through storms that beat upon us. I know that we will not be defeated by the storms of life as we exercise full faith in our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He will travel our trails with us every step of the way.

Kary Hafen has lived in Wasilla for 12 years. She enjoys running, hiking, singing, and baking cookies. Kary is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.