If you know me, you know that I set out to walk virtually everyday, and hike as often as possible. One of my favorite places to be is in the woods surrounded by God’s creation. In this post we’ll go on a journey to explore the H.I.K.E. Method and how it came into being. Today’s post is the second in this series. Read the previous post to get caught up!
Recently, on a very early morning jaunt, I allowed myself a moment to stargaze as I began my adventure. In the winter months I find the sky seems as crisp as the air and the stars shine more brightly. This was true that morning.
I stood there in the middle of the road, head tilted back to take in the beauty of the sky and began thanking God for everything that came to mind. Suddenly, shooting across the sky out of the west there came a straight line of bright lights. At first it was quite startling, if only because of its unexpectedness. It did not take me too long to realize that it was a snake of Starlink satellites heading east as it made its trek around the globe. Apparently, they circle the earth every 90 minutes!
What was striking to me was the orderly fashion with which they marched across the darkness. Not many things in life seem so neat and orderly, at least not from our earthly vantage point. I imagine that from God’s perspective there is great thought, care, and intention to every detail in each of our lives. He brings order to chaos, even if it takes us a while to perceive it.
In a way, the H.I.K.E. Method was an example of this for me. It served as a simple tool the Holy Spirit taught me to quiet the chaos in my heart and mind; an organized system to help me acknowledge my thoughts and feelings then shift my focus onto his character and truths instead. Sounds simple enough, right?
I grew up in a non-Christian dysfunctional family filled with chaos and lies. There was love, sure. However, apart from God, the love we humans manufacture pales in comparison. In truth, I struggle to even categorize it as love. This environment was ripe with various abuses fostered by secrecy and darkness. Growing within it, I became increasingly anxious, suspicious, and fearful of people. At the same time, I was incredibly ashamed, insecure, and lacking any value. Sadly, oppressive and controlling people saw me coming from a mile away. I was ripe for the picking and easily taken advantage of. Young and unwise, I would marry a man of this nature, creating our own version of dysfunction.
After over two decades of marriage, with my relationship its own chaotic cacophony of dishonesty, emotional abuse, and destruction, we divorced. Having become a Christian along the way, Christ had been progressively and steadily opening my eyes to the effects of my years steeped in abuse and the wayward tendency of my spirit that resulted.
Naturally, I was often stuck in patterns of worry and stress, overwhelmed by fearful thoughts of my currently bleak life. I pressed hard into my relationship with Christ. I grew as he brought continual sanctification and healing to my soul. However, I often tried to understand God through the lens of my circumstances instead of trying to understand my circumstances through the lens of who God is.
This upside-down way of navigating life and faith left me tired, weary, and oftentimes hopeless. On top of that, I was stuck in what some now label as “trauma brain,” repeatedly being triggered and without the ability to fully recognize it. Since I could not often see it, I did not understand how to take responsibility for my feelings and partner with the Holy Spirit for deep lasting change in this area.
Enter, the H.I.K.E. Method! Though at that time it didn’t have a name. This is what the acronym stands for:
Halt
Investigate
Know the Truth
Endure
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God systematically removed the blinders from the eyes of my heart. He helped me to Halt; press the pause button on my thoughts and feelings. Investigate; ask exploratory questions of myself, my thoughts and feelings. This information would be used to take my thoughts captive (see 2 Corinthians 10:5) in preparation for receiving his truth. Know the truth is the step where I learned to replace the lies and misconceptions fueling my current perspective and feelings with the truth from God’s word. This enabled me to move forward while actively rejecting the lies I had been allowing myself to believe. Lastly, Endure. This is the path I exist on today, enduring in Christ and trusting his wisdom and guidance.
In the Christian life we are called to actively challenge the old self systems we have built up through the years with the truths of God’s word so we can move forward in the new self (see Ephesians 4:22-24). Because of this, the H.I.K.E. Method is a loop trail! It isn’t a “one and done” study, it’s a way of living your faith! It is meant to be actively practiced and refined as we grow deeper in our relationship with Christ. With regular use, it becomes a path to living in the freedom of the gospel; a path of peace that only comes from keeping one’s mind fixed on God because of an ever-growing trust in him (see Isaiah 26:3).
In my next post I will continue our hike together. There will be another free download…The Take a H.I.K.E. Trail Map! This is a fun visual representation of the H.I.K.E. Method.
With love and prayers,
Margie
Faith Orienteering Services 