God's Coaching #107

God's Coaching #107

For almost two years Gregg Treinish and Deia Schlosberg blazed their own trail and hiked 7,800 miles! On this day in 2008, they finished hiking the entire length of the Andes Mountains—the longest mountain range in the world. The couple’s journey began on June 30, 2006, when they flew from Leadville, Colorado, to Ecuador. Using black-and-white photocopies of maps from the 1920s, Gregg and Deia stayed near the mountain ridges as they made their way south.

For more than a year, they didn’t see another hiker. They battled bouts of intestinal problems, typhoid, and worms. Heading into their journey, they hoped to complete the hike in a year. But Gregg and Deia soon realized it would take much longer. They started focusing on smaller goals, such as making it to the next big city so they could retrieve supplies they’d shipped ahead. At times the pair thought they might die. Other times they tried to convince each other that things would get better. . . . They never did. When the couple arrived at the southernmost tip of Tierra del Fuego, Gregg dropped to a knee and asked Deia to marry him.

What’s the Score?

Gregg and Deia completed an amazing journey. The couple became the first people to navigate the length of the Andes at or near its spine without the use of roads. People around the world followed their progress and celebrated when they finished.

Jesus’ brother James wrote that we should honor Christians who suffer for their faith in Christ. Job was a perfect example of this. He endured the loss of his children, his house, his livestock, and his money—yet he continued to trust and praise God. A day might come during your journey as a Christ-follower when you’ll suffer for your faith. When that time comes, remember that James wrote this about Job: “The Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy” (James 5:11).

On the Ball

Don’t give up on God when you suffer. Read the first two chapters in the book of Job. Do you think you’ll ever suffer like he did? Probably not. Ask God to give you the endurance to make it through any suffering you might experience with your faith firm in Jesus Christ.

Coach’s Comment

We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. James 5:11