If the Grand Canyon reminded me of God’s greatness, Zion National Park reminded me that some of life’s greatest blessings are found by choosing the narrow way.
Unlike most national parks, much of Zion Canyon is explored by shuttle bus. Visitors park outside the canyon, board the shuttle, and ride to various trailheads and overlooks. You can stay on the shuttle for the entire visit and still see some incredible scenery through the windows. But if that’s all you do, you’ll miss the best parts of Zion.
My son and I stepped off the shuttle and began exploring the park one trail at a time. Our first stop was the Riverside Trail, a trail that follows the Virgin River as towering sandstone cliffs rise on either side. With every step, the canyon became narrower until we reached the beginning of one of Zion’s most famous hikes, The Narrows.
The trail itself continues through the Virgin River, where hikers walk in the water between sheer canyon walls. We had not brought the equipment needed to hike through the river, so we stopped where the river trail began. Even without taking another step, the view was unforgettable. Standing there, surrounded by those towering canyon walls, I immediately thought of the words of Jesus.
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction… Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus wasn’t simply comparing two roads. He was describing two ways of living. One is broad, easy, and crowded. The other is narrow, intentional, and requires commitment.
As we continued exploring Zion, we left the shuttle once again and hiked the Lower Emerald Pool Trail. The trail led us to a waterfall tucked beneath the canyon walls. It wasn’t the longest hike in the park, but it was another reminder that some of Zion’s most memorable places can’t be experienced from the shuttle. You have to be willing to get off and walk.
The last trail we hiked was the Canyon Overlook Trail. The path was rocky, with steep drop-offs reminding us to watch every step. (His mom probably would not have approved of this trail.) When we reached the overlook, the view stretched across Pine Creek Canyon and much of lower Zion Canyon. It was one of those moments that makes you stop talking and simply take it all in.
None of those experiences came from staying on the shuttle. The shuttle was convenient, but the trails were rewarding.
That thought stayed with me long after we left the park. It would have been easy to stay on the shuttle all morning. We still would have enjoyed Zion. We still would have seen beautiful scenery. But we would have missed some of the park’s most unforgettable places because we never chose to leave the broad, comfortable path.
Isn’t that often true in our spiritual lives? The broad road is comfortable. It asks very little of us. It follows the crowd and avoids sacrifice.
The narrow way is different. It calls us to obey when obedience is costly. To forgive when forgiveness is difficult. To remain faithful when compromise would be easier. To trust God even when we cannot see where the path is leading.
Following Christ has never been about choosing the easiest road. It has always been about choosing the right one.
The wonderful truth is that the narrow way doesn’t merely lead to life one day in heaven. It also leads to a deeper walk with Christ today. As we follow Him, we discover the joy of His presence, the strength of His grace, and the peace that comes from knowing we are walking where He wants us to be.
Looking back, I am grateful for every trail my son and I walked together in Zion. We laughed, took pictures, admired God’s incredible handiwork, and made memories that I will always cherish. But the greatest thing I carried away from Zion wasn’t another photograph. It was the reminder that the narrow way always leads to the greatest beauty.
Personal Reflection: The broad road is usually the easiest, but it rarely leads to God’s very best. Is there an area of your life where God is calling you to step off the comfortable path and follow Him more intentionally? Trust Him enough to take that next step. The narrow way is always worth it.
Part One – God Can Preserve What Time Cannot (Petrified Forest Naitonal Park)
Part Two – God’s Greatness Produces Humility (Grand Canyon National Park)
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
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