The Christian walk can be a challenge, especially in times like these and like when physically preparing for a difficult hike, it is important to seek wise guidance if we want to be successful.

Years ago when I began a walking regimen, I was surprised to find that streets and roads that had seemed flat and level when driving over them became a mini-mountain range when scaling them on foot. And some of them were uphill in both directions! I almost gave up on my new get-fit scheme.

A tip I read about walking or running uphill made all the difference. Exercisers were advised to shorten their stride as an incline increased. My instinct had been to try to take slower, longer strides to slog up the hills, but now I learned that quicker, shorter steps could have me over the top and sailing down the other side faster and with less effort. 

As with much good advice, this bit of wisdom can apply to other areas of life as well.

Whenever faced with an uphill battle, something that appears to be monumental or difficult to overcome, try to remember to shorten your stride and take many small steps rather than trying to get over the problem in a single bound.

Sometimes when you accept making less forward progress with each step you find that the hill isn’t as steep as you thought. And if it is still a challenge you have more energy to keep working away at it, a little at a time, until you can see your way over the top and down the other side.

The Bible says that a tiny bit of faith can move a mountain. It does not say, “at once”.

 … Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:1-3 MSG