There Is No Way Out But Through 

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Narrow, dark, slippery, and perilous–that is the path we found ourselves at 5:00 am on the last morning of our Inca Trail adventure. As one of my hiking companions succinctly said, “There is no way out but through” to reach Machu Picchu.

Uneven stone stairs lined the path—some close together, others spaced two feet apart. Some steps were wide enough to fit your boots, but most were not. It was a mismatched staircase of stone that seemed to warn, “Watch your step!” all the way down.

Endless twists and turns led us downhill away from the safety of our campsite. We had been up since 3:30 am to pack, eat, and begin our trek. It was the last stretch of hiking we would complete on the Inca trail, and without a doubt, the most dangerous. One slip and you would meet the unforgiving stones placed centuries earlier by the Incas. One missed step, and you’d likely take out the hikers in front of you, sure to cause a domino effect.

Navigating with headlamps, trekking poles, and directives from our guides, we cautiously made our way down the mountain. Eventually, the early morning glow of dawn graciously appeared as we completed this rugged stretch of the trail. We all sighed a breath of relief. Dark trails eventually lead to daybreak.

As I think back on that descent, I realize how closely it mirrors the more challenging stretches in life. Sometimes we find ourselves in areas of the trail where there really is no way out but through. It’s not possible to turn around. There is no Forest Service road to exit and lead you to civilization. And, there is no helicopter landing nearby to whisk you to safety. The only way forward is through.

Perhaps you are in one of those stretches of the trail now—a season of hardship, illness, loss, rejection or failure. Perhaps you are facing one of the toughest battles of your life. Looking around, the light may be barely noticeable, and the way out seem uncertain or near impossible. However, there is always hope, because we have a God who infinitely loves us, and as the prophet Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations:

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail…” (Lamentations 3:21-26) 

I leaned heavily into my trekking poles as I navigated the Inca steps; they stood firmly where I felt wobbly. The poles held me up, steadied me, and made me feel just a tad bit more secure as the guides gave us tips on what was approaching. And just when you needed it, a voice of encouragement from others on the trail came out of the darkness, “You can do this!”

While traversing the dark, winding steps of the trials of life, God never leaves us, and He is faithful. There is always a glimmer of light, always. He promises that. He is the Light of the world. The light on the trail may not illuminate the entire path, but it’s enough to see the next step in front of us. One small step at a time may not feel like much, but it is the only way forward. The trail to whatever mountain we’re facing—grief, uncertainty, or healing—is made of thousands of small, faithful steps. And with even the faintest light ahead, step by step, with poles in hand and faith in our heart, the perilous path will finish and be met by the dawn’s first light.