Catalina Island boasts a 37-mile Trans-Catalina Trail. I have traversed about half of the trail on a couple occasions. On one of the hardest assents, there are several false summits where you think you can see the top of the mountain, only to discover that what appears to be the summit is just halfway there. Perhaps you’ve heard or read before of how the Christian walk with its persevering through hard circumstances is not unlike trekking on long hikes. Though we are called to persevere through trials, Christ is the One who has done the persevering for us. He is the One who comes alongside us in the Spirit to encourage and strengthen us on our travels. Through all His help and love, we still fall into sin, stumble in worry, or lose faith in His sustaining power. Our failings are like a false summit when Christ has come so far with us only to see us fall again. But praise God for His faithfulness! No matter how we falter, He will carry out our lifelong process of sanctification and will never, ever give up on us.