Learning the meaning of 'Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me' whilst searching for hidden Wolfcleuch Waterfall. It's message for the New Year, 2026.
"We're going to have to turn back, I can't do it!"
I was standing in the Scottish Craik Forest my path obstructed by an enormous fallen Fir tree. Feeling particularly stiff, and achey that morning, I could see nothing to grab and didn't feel flexible enough to lever my way up and over the massive wet and slippery trunk or through the many short branches which were sticking out like needles.
It was disappointing.
This was our second attempt to find the Wolfcleuch Waterfall hidden in the Scottish Craik Forest.
The day before we had followed directions on google maps before meeting a local man who told us we were going in the wrong direction, but that the waterfall was there. Due to wind storm damage in recent years it was virtually inaccessible and signposts and bridges had been removed to deter visitors.
He gave us his own directions striding ahead of us through thick grass in his long green wellies and walking stick. "Follow this burn" he said, pointing out a small stream in the edge of the woods. "That'll take you to the waterfall but it's quite a way".
We looked at each other as he strode away, grinning at his wry comments but delighted with the Scottish friendliness. There was no path ahead of us. The burn was edged with long grass and trees, we were hungry for lunch and it was starting to rain.
After tentatively trying to cross the burn in our unsuitable footwear, we decided to walk back to our holiday home but perhaps try again the next day.
That evening we were encouraged to continue our search by the blogpost of a tour guide who had managed to get to the waterfall in August. It wasn't of course vital that we should find the waterfall - but we were on holiday with an aim to enjoy the Scottish Borders landscape. My husband was particularly keen to see the waterfall and I liked the challenge of finding something hidden.
The search had begun well that morning, having been able to drive nearer to the source of the waterfall, parking in Craik Village public carpark. With no cars or people in sight we made our way up a gated forestry road with renewed eagerness.
The sky was blue, the autumn colours of the near forest beautiful in shades of green, orange and brown. All was peaceful except the sounds of distant birds. We had the day ahead of us with no time constraints and were relaxed and happy.
However our progress was soon halted by a forestry tree felling sign with forbidden access up the turning we had expected to take. Reasoning that we could loop round and perhaps come to the waterfall from a different angle we continued along the road, but now somewhat less confidently.
Passing over a bridge the road was now surrounded by tall ancient Norway Spruces, Red Aithouse Burns and Larch trees and winding steadily on ahead of us.
My husband was becoming convinced that we weren't going to find the waterfall this way but good-naturedly agreed to walking round just one more bend in the road and then another.
"If only we could get down into the forest" I sighed, "I'm sure it is just over there somewhere".
As we stood still for a while gazing down into the depths of the forest below the road we suddenly noticed a faint path along the grassy edge of the meandering burn. As we excitedly discussed our discovery walking on a little further we found an opening leading down from the road side into the forest.
Quickly entering the forest we came to a stop and then slowly wandered around for a few minutes in awe.
We felt like we had stepped into another world - a world where all was green and quiet except for the gentle trickle of the nearby burn, and the hushed sounds of birdsong distant in the tops of the tall, tall trees.
Time felt like it was stood still and yet there was a feeling of expectancy and mysteriousness.
And now, after a while of gazing around and discussing which direction to aim for as we tried to get to the little path we had seen by the side of the burn, our way was firmly and decidedly blocked by this huge tree.
Eventually my husband managed to clamber over it, but pacing up and down around it I could see no way over. "If only I had something to grab, or a stick I could use to propel myself over!"
Despite the many fallen trees from previous storms the forest was surprisingly clear of littered sticks and branches. The green undergrowth almost appearing as a neat carpet dotted with interesting looking toadstools and mushrooms.
"Here, try this". My husband was holding out a branch - one of the 'needle-like' prongs from the fallen trunk which he had managed to break off.
Carefully, because of the slipperyness of the damp trunk, I was able to propel myself up onto it and then support myself as I jumped down the other side. Perhaps it was the slight nervousness of possible hidden dangers and the feeling of adventure in this strangely hushed green world with no other humans nearby but my legs were trembling.
Coming to another fallen tree low on the ground I was able to get over it with much more ease, but as I thankfully lent all my weight on the stick and stepped down to the ground, the rod and staff of Psalm 23 flashed into my mind.
'Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me'.
It was as if I suddenly saw literally and tangibly the comfort of the Word of God as we lean on it! It is as a rod and staff to the Christian in their journey to heaven.
As I write this we are fast approaching the end of 2025 with a new year ahead of us. Thoughts of the possible events of 2026 loom in front of me - some with a feeling of dread, others with a feeling of excited anticipation. Perhaps you too have things ahead of you which may be difficult or problematic. We need comfort and assurance of God's help and presence.
Our difficult things may be like that great tree trunk blocking my path - difficult to get a grip on, too big to climb over without help, almost enough to turn us back and make us give up, causing us to look for a way round to avoid it.
May the Lord help us to lean on the promises of His Words:
As God encouraged Zerubbabel the Governor of Judah who felt the task of rebuilding the temple of God was too big for him, "Not by might, nor by power; but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it" (Zechariah 4: 6,7).
This mountain, this barrier in your path which seems impossible to get over or through or divert round - may you hear the comforting voice of the Lord saying,
"Is any thing too hard for the LORD?"
As God gently chided a woman, Sarah, well past the age of childbearing that she would have a son (Genesis 18:14), and encouraged a poor disheartened prophet who was witnessing the destruction of his city, Jerusalem, with all the inhabitants being taken prisoner and yet being told by God to buy land because his people would return there:
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)
May you too be helped to lean all your weight on these words, to cry to the Lord in prayer that He will give you that faith to trust that His words are true, and that as Mary the mother of Jesus was encouraged regarding her virgin conception, "with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).
Perhaps the mountain in your life is so insurmountable that you feel you cannot take another step forward - you so badly need something to lean on. You have tried self-help, you have tried talking to your friends, you have tried numbing distractions, you have done everything you can think of - you have maybe even be tempted to finish everything.
May God help you to lean on the example of the Hebrew leader Moses, who appointed judges to manage minor problems among the Jewish people, but anything more challenging was brought to him so that he could "bring the causes (difficulties) unto God" (Exodus 18:19).
Do you believe that you have obeyed and followed God's instructions and guidance but still you have this great barrier in front of you? Follow Moses' example as he "returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore...? why ...?" (Exodus 5:22).
Lean on the example of the grieving women who gathered up their spices and oils to anoint the dead body of Jesus and early, as the sun was rising came to the place where he was buried to perform their last loving deed despite knowing that there was a huge stone rolled across the opening of Jesus' grave which would prevent them doing this (Matthew 16: 1-4).
May it be for you, that as these women found "that the stone was rolled away", so you too, as you go forward in faith, as you take the first step that is needed in doing what the the Lord has put before you, will find the mountain, the impossibility, the great river, part before you as it did before the Israelites as soon as the priests stepped into the River Jordan which was overflowing its banks (Joshua 3:15).
*****
As we continued our journey through the green forest how that stick spoke to me! Sometimes we shared it, taking turns to use it to navigate our path. One of us would cross the burn and then pass the stick back to the other so that they could lean on it or use it to keep their balance.
This reminded me of how we can comfort each other in our reminding each other of scripture which fits our situations and circumstances. Do we have a friend or loved one in trouble? Do we remind them that God has said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee'? Do we remind them that God is wisdom and knows all things, of His power over all things, of His love for His people?
As I was enjoying the comfort of that stick which was making our journey through the forest so much more enjoyable, safer and possible, likewise what a blessing it is that we have the Bible to go to!
In it we learn more of our God and Saviour - we have the comfort and enjoyment of becoming closer to Him, we feel the refuge and safety in Him, we feel the wondrous miracle of a way being made for us to approach God and to be able to go to heaven, forgiven and made acceptable by the life and death of Jesus Christ.
How often do you and I lean on our Bibles for enjoyment, comfort, safety and as a way to God?
How quick we are to pick up anything but our Bibles for some light entertainment, and look within ourselves for the answer to our problems.
Let us pray that God will remind us in 2026 to turn to Him and His words more, to have an eagerness to spend time with Him in quiet reading and to grow in our knowledge and comfort from Him.
*****
At other times we used our stick to navigate the burn. Confused as to which way we should be going we ended up crossing that burn a total of 6 times! Only a gentle stream of running water it was still deep enough to have made our feet unpleasantly wet if we had slipped off the sometimes wobbly rocks and stones.
As we used the stick to feel for the bottom of the stream, to gauge whether to step onto a rock and to later support us over a muddy landslip, how we can use the Bible as a guide for what to do.
Are we unsure of whether we should do a certain thing - what does the Bible say? Are we unsure of how to deal with a difficult person? What does the Bible say?
As the stick helped to keep us on the right path to get to the waterfall, so the Bible points out the way to heaven.
After crossing the burn 6 times with our faithful stick, trying to compare the landscape with some photos we had found on the Tweed Valley Blogger blog post and navigating around a landslip we both stopped and called to each other to listen!
We were sure we could hear an increased sound of running water. Rounding the corner of the path we suddenly came across a disused picnic table which convinced us we were now on the old path.
Continuing to use the stick to check we were stepping on solid ground and not into the actual burn which was merging into the grass lined path, we quickly now followed by the side of the burn to its source at the bottom of the waterfall.
How delighted we were to have got there! And all because of a stick! We stopped there for some time gazing at the running water and giving thanks to our kind Heavenly Father for enabling us to get there safely and for the beauty of His creation.
After using the stick to likewise help us on our return journey we felt silly when we got back to the road and didn't want to throw it away! We had got attached to it!
We even discussed whether we should take it with us and put it in the car boot for further walking adventures but images of damp wood and insects came to mind. We decided to leave it leaning up against a tree trunk in case somebody else should come along and need it.
How wonderful that our Bibles will never become surplus to our needs and never need throwing away in this life. May we treasure them more, as much as we didn't want to leave that old stick!
It makes me think of the Bible verses that have become particularly special to each us as individual seekers and followers of Jesus.
Have we forgotten them recently?
Have we left them 'leaning against a tree' or do we need to return to them - revisit them, remember the time the Lord made them precious to us, think of the challenges we are now facing and consider, 'has the Lord changed?! Are those verses any less relevant and precious to us now? Are they not rods and staffs the Lord has given us to lean on for comfort in those parts of the pathway when we need His special help?
May the Holy Spirit breathe those verses afresh into your soul that they might renew your spirit and comfort you again. So that as you go through your day, you lean on them, you take out your Bible or Bible App and look at them again or you write them on a cardex and prop it on the windowsill, stick it on the fridge or where ever you will see it.
May we continue our pilgrimage through this life, this new year of 2026 leaning on the comfort of our Bibles, following its guidance, using its treasures to encourage each other, and learning to love it more as we find our safety and refuge in it - the Living Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, 'the Word' of John 1.
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