Verse: John 14:27
Fun Fact: Glacier National Park has 762 lakes
Favorite Hike: Highline Trail
Glacier National Park has been called the Crown of the Continent, and understandably so. Located in northwest Montana, Glacier is by far one of the most beautiful national parks. There are over 700 miles of hiking trails that offer breathtaking views of glaciers, mountain lakes, wildflowers and usually a host of animals--including bears, moose and mountain goats.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is a highlight of the park. Completed in 1932, the 50-mile highway spans the width of the park, connecting the Saint Mary Visitor Center on the east and Apgar Visitor Center at the west entrance of the park and crossing the Continental Divide at 6,746 ft at Logan Pass. There are a number of overlooks and trailheads along the way. Highline Loop should be a bucket list hike for anyone visiting Glacier. It starts at Logan Pass and offers some of the best views in the park over the 12-mile hike. The only downside to the Going-to-the-Sun Road is the snow; snow near Logan Pass can reach depths of 90 feet. The park works hard to plow and clear the road, but it can remain closed sometimes well into June.
There are several lodging options within the park including Apgar Village Lodge, Lake McDonald Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel, and the Rising Sun Motor Inn. There are also 13 front-country campgrounds to choose from as well as many backcountry options.
If you are visiting Glacier National Park, you should also visit Waterton Lakes National Park across the border in Alberta, Canada. In 1932, the two parks came together to create the world’s first International Peace Park (there are now 170 other such parks). The parks are administered separately but cooperate to preserve and manage the ecosystem that crosses political borders. The Goat Haunt Ranger Station sits on the border, they will even stamp your passport with a goat! However, if you are planning to cross the border, it does take a little planning ahead. A popular itinerary is to drive from Glacier to Waterton, stay in the stunning Prince of Wales Hotel and take one of the boat tours on Waterton Lake down to the Goat Haunt station. You can get off and walk around or even opt for hiking back to Waterton, highly recommended!
Peace is something we are often striving for within ourselves, our families, across our nation and across borders, even across national parks, often coming up short. Peace is a sense of well-being, tranquility or calmness. Peace in our world may seem at times unattainable and out of reach, something we can never quite achieve. However, the Bible has a lot to say about peace and the biblical concept of peace is far beyond what our circumstances bring.
In John 14:27 Jesus says Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
This peace, the peace that comes from the Lord, enables believers to not be troubled or fearful based on the changing and often challenging nature of life’s circumstances. This peace is not absent in times of trouble, but all the more present given the truths of the Word (James 1:2). This verse in John is just chapters before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, no doubt one of the most troubling times in history, especially for the disciples who don’t know what the coming weeks will hold, but Jesus promises peace.
Romans 5:1 tells us that ...”having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Peace comes through justification, the act of being made righteous in God’s eyes because of Christ’s work on the cross. Through this we are no longer enemies of God, but adopted as His children. This is the peace the Lord is speaking of, peace between sinners and the Holy God of the universe.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5
This is what Christ did for us — peace is central to the gospel message, that Christ bore our sins so that we may have peace with God. Isaiah 32:17 says the work of righteousness will be peace and Colossians 1:20 tells us peace is made through the blood of His cross. Peace in Christ means being able to take Christ’s righteousness as our own, to be presented holy and blameless before our God. This is the peace the Bible speaks of. This is the peace you should think of when you read verses like Philippians 4:7, Psalm 29:11, and John 16:33. What a blessing!
I pray as you visit Glacier National Park and the International Peace Park, you read through these verses and are encouraged. I pray you are able to experience an earthly peace during your time in the park, a time of rest, contentment and tranquility. This is, after all, a blessing of the national parks, and it often allows us the mental clarity and stillness to focus on the peace we have in Christ, which will sustain us far after our hike or trip has ended.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
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