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I love going on a walk. In the past, I’d combine walking with running, but my knees began to complain. So, I took up walking instead and later on learned to love hiking. Obviously, to those who know me, I am not a skilled hiker. I’m more of a novice. That said, I do my best.

My favorite walking companion is Jamie (the hubs). When we walk, we talk. And talk, and talk, and talk some more. We’re better these days (after 40+ years of matrimonial bliss) about not interrupting the other when they’re mid-sentence. Better in the sense that we not only respect one another but also think carefully about our responses.

Sometimes, words aren’t needed when talking.

We’ve learned there’s an art and science to talking. Our best talks often take place when we are on a walk.

I didn’t know how to go on a walk

While I’m not big on resolutions at the start of a New Year, I am big on relationships. The most important relationship I have in life, even before my relationship with my husband, is my relationship with God. When I first became a Christian, I wondered how I could have a relationship with God. I loved the Lord, and I went to church. But I knew Christianity was more than what I was experiencing. I’d occasionally try to read the Bible and pray. But the process of talking and walking with God regularly was hard for me to understand.

I didn’t know how to go on a walk with Him every day.

Walking with God in relationship isn’t about what we do. It’s all about the posture of our hearts. Our hearts dictate our actions. When Jamie fell in love with me, he made his feelings for me known to everyone. First, he made it clear to me that he was on a mission to win my heart. Side note: this was pretty easy to do; I fell hard for him. He also made it clear to others that I was his girl, no trespassing.

When we try to lead the way

Living in relationship with God can be likened to going on a walk with Him. Some of the trails He takes us on are harder than others. We run into trouble on those walks when we try to lead. When I hike with Jamie, He usually leads the way because he’s steadier on his feet than I am. He holds his hand out to steady me as we go up and down rocky paths.

I’ve learned that hiking is a sport that calls for:

• An understanding of one’s own physical fitness. Overestimating fitness can be dangerous when hiking. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses helps keep you safe.
• An understanding of the trails and walking with a partner. Many hikers have gone missing or even have lost their lives when traversing unknown trails alone. Wisdom means understanding and appreciating the trails, and recognizing the importance of not hiking alone.
• Proper footwear. Hiking without proper footwear can not only cause sore feet but also lead to slips on uneven surfaces.
• Walking sticks. These provide extra support to lean on.

Wisdom to navigate

These days, learning the mechanics of growing in relationship with God is pretty easy. Limitless resources are available in person, in print, and online. But beware when delving into those sites. It takes wisdom to navigate the complicated world of advice. Whenever I begin searching for resources, I take time to investigate these sites and sources. I would encourage you to do the same.

As it is with hiking, there are things that we need to understand when we walk with God:

• God’s Word is the main source of our spiritual strength. Understanding that everything we ingest needs to be filtered through His Word provides a safety net for our spirits.
• Everyone needs someone we connect with and who helps us to grow spiritually. This person also helps us connect with a local church. No one can live apart from a local Church. Even the apostle Paul had someone named Ananias who walked with him and introduced him to the first principles of faith (Acts 9:10-19).
• We also need to understand that just like the heroes of faith needed to lean on their staffs (like Jacob, Hebrews 11:21), we too need to lean on God and His word to walk with Him. Only the wise understand they cannot walk apart from leaning on God’s word.

I invite you to go on a walk with me

I invite you to go on a walk with me this year. Like last year, the words that resonate with me as I think about 2026 are to get closer. I want to go on a walk all year long with the Father. I want to hear His voice, even if it’s only a whisper.

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