This Wednesday we got the opportunity to hike Yonah Mountain and camp overnight at the top. We’ve known since the beginning of training camp that we would have to do a hike with our gear and I, like most people on my squad, was very nervous. I am not the most physically fit person ever and the prospect of carrying all my gear up a mountain for over two miles was daunting. Another big worry was embarrassing myself. I didn’t want to be struggling in the back and slowing everyone down. I didn’t want to seem “weak” or not capable. As we drove down the road, everyone was singing and yelling in the van but I was staring out the window, anxiety growling in my stomach. As we were climbing out of the van Philippians 4:13 came to mind, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I realized this whole time I had been stressing out so much I had never thought to bring it to God, the one who literaly made the mountain I was about to climb. I stopped and prayed for strength and endurance to climb this mountain and the confidence to believe that I could do it. Before I knew it I was already half way done, and I was making good time. While I was hiking, God pointed out the beauty and glory in his creation. From the towering trees to the giant moss-adorned rocks to the mushrooms growing out of a fallen tree, the whole forest seemed to be singing God’s praise. It was difficult (and sweaty) but every time my flesh started to falter I reached to God to give me strength and He pushed me to heights I never thought I could reach. When I reached the top I had to stop and sit down in pure awe at the view. I’ve been hiking several times and seen many beautiful views but this was hands down the best view I have ever seen. The mountains stretched on for miles in every direction and the sun lit everything up in a shining gold glow. We got to watch the sun set and sleep right next to the cliff. The whole experience not only renewed my faith in God’s ability to help me overcome anything but also the glory and splendor in which He clothes His creation. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” - Matthew 6:25-34