The first text I typed that morning was the last words we texted to one another the night before. Except that I added the question, No matter what? We had agreed to finally hike a trail new to us.

The no-matter-what ended up being two inches of overnight rainfall. The trail we wanted to tackle was known for its cleared paths, steep hills, and a bonus of possible eagle sightings.

Let’s do it! My friend replied quickly that morning. So, we did.

From the empty parking lot, we headed to the heavily wooded area and onto the cleared path. We stayed on the grassier edges of the trail to stay clean and dry. That is, until no grassy edges remained.

The mud deepened and became downright soupy at times, but turning around was not an option. We were going to do this hike, no matter what. We rock-stepped across a rushing stream and climbed up a few steep, slippery hills, grabbing at tree roots and limbs for assistance. Nicole offered me her hand when mud swallowed my left shoe, and I stood sock-footed and one-legged–both of us unable to stop laughing.

Later that morning, tucked into a cozy booth at our favorite diner, we recalled the details of our hilarious hike over hot coffees. As we talked, the no-matter-what idea came up again. We discussed how wonderful that would be as a new mindset.

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

~Joshua 1:9

What if everything we wanted to accomplish, we just went all in at full force? No fear, no doubt, no hesitation. When God asks us to do something—anything—we choose whether to make excuses or push ourselves to do it. What if we were to approach those nudges or our calling with the same attitude we have when hiking? Then, even rain and mud would not deter us. After all, why would we not?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

~Proverbs 3:5-6

If we truly trust God, nothing is at risk. He asks us to share; we simply do it. He asks us to forgive; we do so quickly. And when He prompts us to witness to someone, we say a quick yes. No hesitation, no excuses, no explanations. We do what He wants, no matter what. That could certainly change the way we live our lives.

God knows our future and has redeemed our past. He holds so many blessings for us in His hands. Trust Him. Do as He asks. Whether life has you stepping on dusty paths or sloshing around in thick mud, know you can entirely rely on Him. He wants what’s good for you. No matter what.

Learn to follow God’s nudge without hesitation.

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to stay focused on You and the path You place before me. Allow me to develop more of a no-matter-what attitude in all things, especially those things You ask of me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Genre: Nonfiction

Copyright 2025: No Matter What: Cynthia Mendenhall: All Rights Reserved.