Psalms 91:11”For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” New American Standard (NAS)
Sun Valley, Idaho is a gorgeous small town in a sparsely populated state. I drove down an isolated road east of town until I found a trail. The town’s map said the trail went to an abandoned settler‘s cabin about two miles into the mountains. Since I was by myself, I took plenty of water and food, and all the supplies I would need in case something happened. This was before cell phones.
As I left the parking lot, mounted a ridge, took in the view, I was consumed by heart thumping anxiety. Why? The valley dropped off steeply to my left with treetops below the path, and the mountain’s foothills to the right. I walked another 200 feet and the anxiety increased, my breathing became ragged, the hair on my neck stood up, and my feet would hesitate with every step. I listened to my primal instincts and stopped. I tried to go forward again, but the symptoms increased. It was like having arms pushing you backwards.
I turned around, walked back to the car, drove back towards town a mile, found another trail, and hiked my four miles with no associated anxiety. I spoke to another experienced hiker and they said “perhaps you smelled a moose or bear but did not know it. You definitely did the right thing turning around.” I believe the angels were protecting me from danger I could not see or hear.
When have you experienced instinctive or real fear and changed your path? When have you rethought the direction of your life? Or your hike?