Navigating Life’s Narrow Trail
As the trail gets narrower, we have to let go of self and cling to the One who sees us through to the other side.
This summer, I took some time with my daughter and went to Glacier National Park. Some of you may have read another story that I told about our trip. The setting of this story is the same, but the outcome is different.
We had started on the Highline Trail, and the wind was blowing very hard. It was so bad that some turned around, and I was beginning to wonder. Some places were so narrow, and with the wind blowing as it was—and I being afraid of heights—I was worried about being blown over the edge and down into the deep valley. You would be unlikely to survive.
As we were walking along, people were coming back our way, and we would ask them how far they had gone or if they had gone to the Chalet. One particular gentleman who was coming back our way was near the beginning of the trail. We had passed the really bad, windy area at this point, and as he came along, I asked him how far he had gone. He said he had turned around just shortly before, saying, “I just can’t take it anymore.”
He went on to say how he didn’t like being around crowds of people (there weren’t that many). But what disturbed him most, and drove him crazy, was people taking selfies. He said just around a year ago, a person had fallen to their death; he didn’t say where exactly on the trail or what the cause was, but it made him nervous. He just could not go on watching people take selfies on this narrow trail for fear they would lose their footing and fall, not realizing the danger they were in, all because they were taking a picture of themselves.
Where the fall took place on the trail, or how it happened, doesn’t really matter, but the realization is that many people today are very self-focused. It is all about posting about oneself. And if I don’t look as good as someone else, depression sets in. Or if I think I am better than someone else, my ego is overshadowing everything else in my life.
It made me start to think about my own life. Just like trying to get the best picture of ourselves can cost us our lives in many ways—not just a plummet to our death—it can cost us our eternal life. It can cause our spiritual lives to stop growing, and a slow death occurs without us even knowing it because the changes come so gradually.
It seems that much of what I see in life reminds me of how important it is to keep my eyes on Christ.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." — Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
If we are focused on ourselves, what we are doing, how “good” we are, how much knowledge we think we have, or even how “good” we are to others, we will gradually grow cold. Because we have taken our eyes off the One who is good, we are headed for death—death spiritually, which will also lead to eternal death.
There is nothing wrong with taking a picture of yourself or with a group in a beautiful place, in and of itself. It is the motive of the heart. It is whether our focus is so much on self that we don’t see anything else around us.
We are traveling on a spiritual trail, and as time approaches the end, that trail will get narrower and narrower.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." — Matthew 7:13–14 (KJV)
We can’t carry the things of this world with us. As the trail gets narrower, we are going to need to let go of more and more and only be clinging to the One, Jesus, who can see us through to the other side. We need to remember this world is not our home; we are just passing through.
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." — Matthew 24:12 (KJV)
Because of all the sin in this world, the love of many is waxing cold. I don’t want to hang on to the things of this world and fall to my death on the narrow trail of life. I want to let go and let God have full charge of my life. I want to let go of whatever is keeping me from navigating the narrow trail. I want to surrender fully to God and not allow anything or anyone to divert me from my journey. And I want to share with anyone who will listen about what Jesus has done for me so that they can also be ready for His soon coming.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for the times I have allowed my eyes to wander away from You and focus on myself, my ego, or the distractions of this world. Lord, I don't want my love to grow cold in these late hours of earth's history. Search my heart today and reveal anything I am holding onto that might cause me to lose my footing on the narrow path. I surrender my life, my heart, and my desires fully into Your hands. Give me the strength to let go of self and the courage to cling tightly to Jesus. Fix my eyes upon Him every single day, and use my testimony to point others toward Your kingdom before You return.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen.
5 Action Steps for the Narrow Trail
Practice Daily Self-Examination: Take a few moments each morning to reflect on your motives. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where pride, self-focus, or comparison might be creeping into your thoughts.
Limit Digital and Social Distractions: Fast periodically from social media or scrolling. Use that time instead to fill your mind with God's Word so that the world's standard of self-promotion doesn't subtly shape your focus.
Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Christ: Begin each day by beholding Jesus through prayer and Scripture reading (Hebrews 12:2). What we behold is what we become; keeping Him in view prevents spiritual decay.
Travel Lightly by Letting Go: Identify specific worldly burdens, attachments, or sinful habits that make it difficult to walk the narrow trail. Consciously lay them down at the foot of the cross, trusting God to hold you fast.
Share Your Testimony with Others: Actively look for opportunities to share what Jesus has done for you. Shifting your focus onto serving others and pointing them to Christ keeps your faith active and your heart warm.
The trail ahead may be narrow, and the winds of this world may blow fiercely, but we do not walk it alone. When we stop trying to capture our own image and instead reflect the image of Christ, our steps become sure, our hearts remain warm, and our eyes stay fixed on the home waiting for us at the end of the journey. Keep walking, keep letting go, and keep looking unto Jesus.
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