Built Different or Just Prepared

Right before COVID hit in 2020, we had this massive trip planned. We drove all the way from Dallas, Texas, to Joshua Tree National Park, then through Los Angeles and eventually to Yosemite National Park.

We did not do much research on hiking Half Dome. But while we were hiking in Yosemite, we saw a sign that said we were halfway to Half Dome. So we went for it.

Big mistake.

We were not prepared at all. I have never climbed so many stairs in my life. The hike was brutal. It felt like it would never end. We were rationing a single bag of beef jerky, but thankfully, we had plenty of water. Still, we desperately needed food.

Every time I took a tiny nibble of that beef jerky, I could literally feel a little energy rush back into my body. It was just enough to keep me moving.

As we were hiking, a man who clearly knew the trail ran past us with a backpack on. He was trail running all the way to the top of Half Dome. I remember thinking, I could never do that. That guy was built differently.

Eventually, we made it to the top. I collapsed. I cried. It was a mix of complete exhaustion and overwhelming satisfaction from finally reaching our destination.

The same man who ran past us was already there. He came up to us and asked if we had a portable charger. Somehow, I actually did have one in my backpack. Leave it to the social media guy to carry a portable charger.

In return for helping him charge his phone, he gave me a bag of Funions.

I had never tasted something so good in my life.

I had never even had Funions before, but the hunger in my body made those chips taste incredible. They gave me exactly what I needed in that moment.

A Picture of Our Faith Walk

I think a lot of the time, we compare our faith journeys to others. 

We see people who seem to move faster, pray stronger, endure more and never get tired. They look like they are running uphill while we are barely surviving one step at a time. It is easy to assume they are just built differently.

But more often than not, they are simply more prepared. They have been nourished. They have trained. They have learned where their strength comes from.

Scripture reminds us that our strength is not meant to come from ourselves.

Jesus says in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Just like that beef jerky and those Funions gave me enough strength to keep going, God gives us daily nourishment through His Word, prayer and dependence on Him. We are not meant to compare our pace to someone else’s. We are called to stay faithful, keep moving forward and make sure the right source is filling us.

Galatians 6:4 reminds us, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”

Your pace does not determine your faithfulness. What matters is that you keep walking and that you stay fed by the Lord.

Reflection Questions

1. Where in my faith walk have I been comparing myself to others instead of focusing on my own journey?
2. Read Galatians 6:4
3. Am I trying to push forward in my own strength, or am I regularly being nourished by God’s Word and prayer?
4. Read John 6:35
5. What would it look like for me to trust God with my pace and remain faithful in the season I am currently in?
6. Read Philippians 1:6

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Nastco

Joe Navarro, known online as @joechristianguy, is a Christian content creator, entrepreneur, and cultural voice passionate about making faith approachable and impactful for the next generation. With over 4.5 million combined followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Joe delivers bold, Gospel-centered truth through a mix of daily encouragement, short-form teachings, comedic skits, and authentic life experiences. His unique blend of theology, humor, and clarity has created space for millions of young believers and skeptics alike to engage with Scripture and real conversations about following Jesus in a digital world. In 2023, he co-created the popular card game Discernment alongside Jacob and Julia Petersen, which is now available in major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Museum of the Bible, and Mardel. He also holds a degree in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Sales from Texas A&M.