In my last blog I wrote about shifting your gaze from your circumstances to the reality of the gospel, the new life we have in Christ, and the way He is always at work in us (even if we cannot sense it at all times).
Psalm 111:3 says, “Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty” (NLT).
One way to shift your gaze Godward is to intentionally pursue and enjoy God’s majesty. Engaging in what my family calls “beauty chasing” is a great tool for this. Getting to explore and hike in Rocky Mountain National Park last week was beauty chasing on steroids.
God’s majesty was abundantly obvious in such a setting. But one moment—a hike with my husband—ultimately took my breath away (both literally and figuratively).
We began on the shores of one lake, beautiful in its own right, but quickly began an ascent into pine forests before leveling out for the remainder of two mile journey to our mid-hike goal—Bierstadt Lake, which sits on a ridge at just under 10,000 feet elevation.
The enemy likes to disrupt any pursuit of God, whether time in the Word, time in worship, or time beauty chasing for more of His majesty. On this hike, I ended up in a battle with some of the enemy’s favorite tactics with me: speculation, anxiety, and discouragement.
The speculation started almost immediately, mostly centering on unknowns. The hike was hard. I didn’t know how long the ascent would last. I didn’t know how long I would last. Mentally, I became consumed with trying to talk myself out of worry and stress, which was all I was paying attention to for the first half mile.
When I noticed the speculation and the fear, I had a choice. I could condemn myself. I could try harder. (And I did both of those things for a time.) Or I could bring all that mess honestly before God. His invitation to us always is: “Come to me with this. Let’s look at it together.”
As I turned my attention to God instead of trying to navigate fear in my own strength, He encouraged me to stop for a bit, to tell Marshall how anxious I was, and to pray. Speaking fears aloud and inviting God into them took all the edge out of the enemy’s stirring of the anxiety pot.
God reminded me of the devotional I had read that morning. It was about Him being present even in unknown places, and how He curates each person’s daily experiences and gifts, even if they include discomfort.
I felt myself relax. I began to come into a place of praise and then began watching for God’s majesty and gifts with joyful expectation (the very thing that speculation likes to push us away from).
Our lives are a lot like this. We will always face the challenges of battling our own flesh as well as the interference of the enemy of God. Sometimes we can get so discouraged by those realities, we believe we are stuck. But God doesn’t leave us stuck.
When we notice things like discouragement, we can engage God in conversation; we can shift our gaze and bring things to Him. It’s a practice I’ve come to call “processing with God.” It’s a practice full of blessings and often full of surprises.
Despite its rocky start (no pun intended), that day was indeed filled with blessings and surprises. As we left Bierstadt Lake, I found myself standing at a mountain ridge at about 9,500 feet. We were on the crest of a narrow trail of switchbacks descending down 600 feet of open mountainside… the views of distant peaks were majestic and filled with beauty. I burst into tears to see such glory.
But even more majestic? As I stood on the top of that trail, God reminded me of a promise He gave me in February 2025, as I considered whether to have Achilles surgery that I knew would sideline me in recovery for the better part of a year.
“He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure upon the heights.” Psalm 18:33, ESV
I realized how God literally had brought about fulfillment of that verse. I was standing securely upon those gloriously beautiful heights just 13-and-a-half months after surgery. The tears flowed, and I was absolutely confident in God’s care as we hiked down a mile and a half of switchbacks, my heart as light as a feather and filled with worship.
This weekend, I invite you to chase some beauty, whether that is literally getting out into the glory of God’s creation, or it is taking the time to encounter the majestic way in which God cares for your soul and meets you with tenderness and grace.
Maybe take something you’ve noticed recently: a fear, a frustration, a disappointment, or a recurring thought. Instead of trying to ignore it or immediately fix it yourself, bring it to God.
Ask: “Lord, what do You want me to see here?” Sit with Him. Listen. Let Him love you.
Over the past months, I've been creating a resource to help people learn this very rhythm of bringing real life honestly before God. It's a 21-Day Audio Journey that guides you simply through prayer, paying attention, and "processing with God." You can learn more about it HERE.