Trust

On our trip to Nor Cal I wanted to take the children on a hike in the mountains I grew up hiking in.  It’s a quick 10 minute drive to the top of Big Basin and the hiking trails are amazing and beautiful.  Once I could drive, I would go up into the mountains behind my parent’s house all the time to journal, pray, set goals, and just be.  Those mountains are very special to me and hold significance to some pretty poignant moments in my life.

As we started winding up the mountain, it was evident that the marine layer from the ocean on the other side was not going to burn off, so we’d spend a very chilly July morning in the mountains.   Almost to our destination, a little voice from the back of the car said, “Mommy, will there be other people there?”  “On the trails?,” I asked to clarify.  “Well, in the mountains.  Will there be other people up there?  Or will we be alone?”  I could tell from her tone that she was nervous for some reason about our little adventure.

“You don’t have to be scared.  Mommy grew up in these mountains and I know exactly where we’re going.  I would never put you in danger.  Don’t you trust me?”

I could tell that she wasn’t comforted.  She has no reason not to trust me.  I tried to think of what I could say to ease her mind and just get her to enjoy the beauty around us, but I couldn’t think of a magical phrase to make her trust me.  Shouldn’t a child automatically trust their parents?

How many times have I questioned in a small, shaky voice what God is doing?  There is no reason for me not to trust Him, He’s proven faithful time and again.  Still, I don’t always trust.  When the fog is getting thicker, the road bending from left to right and what lies ahead is unknown, I too get nervous and start to doubt.

There was nothing I could do but to lead on in confidence
and assure her that I knew what I was doing.

I don’t know if it was the park ranger she saw in the parking lot or my assurance that everything was going to be fine, but eventually she had a wonderful time exploring the mountains that I love so dear.

Sometimes I guess we have to see to believe.
God has our best interest in mind.  He is for us.  We can trust Him.
As my daughter began to see that we were safe, Mommy knew the trail and the wonder we saw was worth the risk, she began to trust a little more.