Keep Moving: What the Water Taught Me in the Red River Gorge

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.”

A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time in the Red River Gorge with five teenagers. We hiked more than 17 miles over two days, and somewhere along those trails, I started thinking about the water.

If you've ever stood beside one of those creeks and really looked at the rocks, you realize something pretty amazing. That water has been working on those rocks for a very, very long time.

It doesn't look powerful. You can stand there and put your hand in it. You can step across it. But that same water has carved through solid rock and created those incredible cliffs and gorges.

And here's what really struck me: The water doesn't quit. It hits a rock. Then it comes back. It hits it again. And again. And again.

Eventually, that rock begins to change. But sometimes the water doesn't go through the rock at all. It just goes around it. It bends. It changes direction. It finds another path. And it keeps going.

That got me thinking about us. Because every one of us is going to encounter some rocks in life. Some of those rocks are going to be disappointments. Some are going to be failures. Some are going to be things we didn't ask for and certainly didn't expect. And sometimes we're going to hit those things hard. There are going to be moments when life doesn't just gently bump us—it crashes into us.

And we may find ourselves asking, “God, why am I going through this?”

But here's what I think God reminded me of while I was standing beside that creek: The rock doesn't get to decide where the water is going. The water keeps moving.

And as Christians, we have a destination. Paul says in Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Notice that word: press. Paul didn't say, “I coast.” He didn't say, “I stop whenever something gets difficult.” He said, “I press on.”

Church, that's what we have to do.

Sometimes we're going to have to go straight through something. Sometimes God is going to lead us around it. And sometimes that rock is going to be there for a while, and God is going to use it to shape us.

But whatever happens—keep moving. Don't let the disappointment stop you. Don't let the failure define you. Don't let the difficult season convince you that God has forgotten you. Keep moving toward Jesus.

Because here's the beautiful thing about that water: The very thing that seems to be fighting against it can eventually become part of the beauty it creates. Those rocks aren't just obstacles anymore. They're part of the gorge.

And maybe some of the things we've fought against in our own lives are the very things God is going to use to shape our faith, our character, and our testimony.

So if you're facing a rock today, I want you to remember that creek. If you can go through it, go through it. If God leads you around it, go around it. And if you get knocked backward— get back up and start moving again.

Because the rock may slow you down. It may change your direction. It may even leave a few scars. But it doesn't have to stop you. Keep moving.Keep trusting. Keep following Jesus.

And eventually, you may look back and realize that God was using the very things you thought were going to break you— to shape you into something beautiful.

Father, thank You for reminding us that we don't have to be afraid of the obstacles in front of us. When life hits us hard, help us get back up. When we don't know which way to go, lead us. And when You allow difficult things to shape us, give us the faith to trust You. Help us keep pressing forward, keep our eyes on Jesus, and never stop moving toward the purpose You've given us. In Jesus' name, amen.