The Long Haul
A HIKING DEVOTIONAL
Day one of your multi-day backpacking trek feels like an adventure. You’re excited, taking photos of everything, chatting with other hikers, and feeling pretty invincible despite the heavy pack. By day three, the novelty has worn off. Your feet hurt, you’re tired of the same trail food, and you’re starting to realize that this isn’t just a long hike – it’s a commitment that’s going to test every part of you for the next week or two.
By day seven, you’re not thinking about the destination anymore. You’re thinking about whether your blister is getting infected, whether you packed enough warm clothes, and whether that headache is dehydration or just fatigue. The Instagram-worthy moments are still there, but they’re happening in between long stretches of just grinding out the miles with your head down.
Here’s what separates people who complete long treks from those who turn back: it’s not the first day’s enthusiasm or even physical fitness. It’s the willingness to keep going when it stops being fun. When your body hurts. When the weather turns nasty. When you’re sick of the food, tired of sleeping in your tent, and starting to question why you thought this was a good idea in the first place.
This is exactly what following Jesus looks like – not the highlight-reel moments we see on social media, but the actual day-in, day-out reality of a long obedience in the same direction.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Notice that word “daily.” Not just once when you’re feeling inspired at a church retreat. Not only when things are going well. Daily – which includes the boring days, the hard days, and the days when you’d rather be doing literally anything else.
In Galatians 6:9, Paul writes, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” He’s acknowledging that you WILL get weary. It’s not “if” you get tired – it’s “when.” The question is whether you’ll quit or keep hiking.
And in Hebrews 12:1, we’re encouraged to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Not run with initial enthusiasm. Not run when we feel like it. Run with perseverance – which is just a fancy word for “keep showing up even when it’s hard.”
The problem is, we live in a culture that’s obsessed with quick results and instant gratification. We want the spiritual equivalent of a day hike with great views – meaningful, but finished by dinner. We’re not nearly as interested in the multi-week expedition that requires daily commitment, discomfort, and sacrifice.
But here’s the thing: the views from the summit or the destination – both literal and spiritual – don’t come from easy day hikes. They come from long, sustained effort over time. From getting up every morning and hiking even when you don’t feel like it. From dealing with the blisters, the altitude, the bad weather, and the moments when you genuinely wonder if you can keep going.
And just like on a long trek, you don’t do it alone. You rely on your hiking partners to encourage you on bad days. You trust your guide to know the route even when you can’t see where you’re going. You take rest days when needed, not because you’re quitting but because even long journeys require regular stops to recover and refuel.
This Week’s Challenge: Identify one area of your spiritual life that requires long-term commitment rather than short-term enthusiasm. Maybe it’s staying in a difficult marriage instead of looking for an exit. Maybe it’s continuing to serve in a ministry when the initial excitement has worn off. Maybe it’s sticking with daily prayer or Bible reading even on the days when it feels boring or pointless. Recommit to showing up tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that – not because you feel inspired, but because you’re on a long trek and quitting isn’t an option.
The long haul separates tourists from trekkers. Keep hiking, even when it’s hard.
Questions for Reflection
1. Think About It: Have you ever committed to something long-term that required daily effort over weeks, months, or years (a sport, a degree, a project)? What kept you going when the initial excitement wore off?
2. Get Personal: What’s one area of following Jesus that you’ve struggled to maintain over the long haul? What makes it hard to stay consistent when the newness wears off and it becomes a daily grind?
3. Go Deeper: If someone looked at your spiritual life right now, would they see someone on a long, committed trek toward a destination, or someone taking occasional day hikes when the weather is nice? What needs to change for you to embrace the daily commitment required for the long haul?