Trek of faith

Many years ago, I was challenged to participate in a fitness trek in Anchorage. It was a 50-mile trek in one day that was designed to increase our faith as we remembered the Mormon Pioneer struggles on their journey West. Everyone was permitted to choose how far they would go. I set a goal for 25 miles. We could walk, run, or eventually crawl and hobble to our finish line. My husband and I trained for this event together so that we would be prepared to endure the challenge.

When the trek day began, we met in Eagle River at 6:00 am on a Saturday. This was truly a test of my faith! We started out jogging and walking the first 17 miles. At mile 17, other participants were waiting to give us water, fruit, and encouragement. After the first checkpoint, it seemed to take a while to get to mile 25. Once we arrived there, I still felt strong enough to go farther. I considered stopping, but since I felt ok, I exercised faith and pressed on.

I knew my husband was going for the entire 50 miles, but I figured I would be unconscious by that point. So, I just decided to walk the rest of my trek until I reached our home, bringing my total distance to about 35 miles at that point. As we approached mile 30, my heels were blistered and bleeding. At mile 32, I was walking sideways and had great pain in my hip. At mile 34, some friends saw us and offered me a ride home. They could sense and see my discomfort. The offer was so tempting, but I knew I could make it home. I only had one more mile to go. So, forward with faith, I went, one small, very slow step at a time. I made it home alive and in one piece. I enjoyed intense relief and a sense of accomplishment as I rested and recovered on my couch.

We all have treks that try our faith. Sometimes we travel epic distances through our afflictions, and the discomfort seems insurmountable. We may feel we can’t take one more step. But, if we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, we will cross the finish line safely and be rewarded with eternal life.

Fear and doubt can cause conflict when one is trying to exercise faith in Christ. The Savior himself encourages us to “be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27 KJV). One of Christ’s disciples, named Thomas, struggled with exercising faith in Him. While other disciples were rejoicing upon the return of our resurrected Redeemer, Thomas doubted and said that unless he could see and touch the nail prints and the wound in Christ’s side, he would not believe. The Savior appeared before him and invited Thomas to feel his hands and side. And Jesus said, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed, blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Henry B. Eyring of The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints explains, “It will take unshakable faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to choose the way to eternal life. It is by using that faith we can know the will of God. By acting on that faith we build the strength to do the will of God. And it is by exercising that faith in Jesus Christ that we can resist temptation and gain forgiveness through the Atonement.”

To conquer our unbelief as we strive to press forward on our paths, we should focus our faith on the One who knows the way. Jesus Christ is the way, the only way. If we trust in Him to lead us along as we struggle and strain, he will ease our burdens and comfort us in our pain. If ever you feel lost, confused, or afraid, remember to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

A verse from Nik Day’s song entitled “Trust in the Lord,” inspires me to keep traveling my treks with faith: “We won’t be blinded by the rain; The path we’re on is clear. There may be mountains on the way, But we choose faith, not fear. He opens our eyes, Fills us with peace, Lifts up our weary souls. He is the light, and we’ll never be alone.”

As we trust in Him, the Savior will walk with us every step of the way back home.

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.