by Chris Klausen

My happy place is Colorado.  For our 20th wedding anniversary, my husband and I filled our Nissan Rogue with all sorts of gear and embarked on the long road trip from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Breckenridge, Colorado, making stops along the way to see friends and family in Nebraska. The literal and figurative high point of that trip was hiking up Quandary Peak, which was over 14,000 ft. We did it on our actual wedding anniversary—talk about a metaphor for marriage!

As a newcomer to mountain trekking, I spent months researching trails, gear essentials, and hiking tips. My wing 5 on the Enneagram came out strong (IYKYK Investigators). As suggested by fellow travelers, our first days there were spent doing smaller, less strenuous hikes as we adjusted to the altitude. We drank water infused with chlorophyll (so yes, it was green) to help oxygenate our blood and stave off the dreaded altitude sickness. I had read about that and it was not a Colorado experience I desired.

Early rising was key—I learned that lesson from my research. Summer storms there can roll in unexpectedly in the afternoons, so we set out long before dawn to avoid getting caught in a lightning storm at 14,000 feet. That decidedly isn’t the way I want to leave this earth.

We began hiking exactly at sunrise, in a dense pine forest, where the foliage limited visibility. There was a thick, earthy smell from walking on dry pine needles that crunched underfoot. It was beautiful. As time went on, our excitement remained high, and we made swift progress. We were certain we’d reach the summit sooner than planned and were quite pleased with ourselves.

Amateurs.

As we rose above the tree line, our eyes turned upward toward what clearly was Quandary’s summit. However, it wasn’t long before realization dawned on me.

That peak isn’t THE peak.

It turned out that there were many “peaks” along the way to Quandary Peak, each nestled behind another. The closer we rose toward one peak, a new peak would emerge in the distance.

The trail became intense and, at this point, the word “trail” is being generous. The incline was steep and loose scree replaced the sturdy well-worn dirt path. Our progress slowed—sometimes to a halt. Stop. Rest. Refuel. There were times when the trail was lost to us. It was just “up” at that point. We would take a step and evaluate where to place our next foot with the least chance of loose rock sliding out from under it. But we kept moving forward until we reached the summit.

It was worth the climb.

Markers on the Journey

Many Christian traditions have likened our life with God to a journey, a metaphor that deeply resonates with my own spiritual experience. At some point as followers of Christ, most of us realize that our relationship with God and growth in wholeness is not as easy or straightforward as we thought it would be. Even formally educated pastors and ministry leaders often lack familiarity with the common stages that describe the landscape of faith. This observation is not a critique, but a recognition that in many seminary programs, lifelong spiritual formation has not been emphasized in their training. Few anticipate the vast terrain of lifelong companionship with God, and they often struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, anger, or confusion when things get difficult – after all, they feel the pressure of others looking to them as the “experts” and guides on matters of faith. 

Understanding the terrain of the spiritual journey profoundly influences how we perceive our own spiritual journey and how we come alongside others in theirs.  It enables us to be present to both ourselves and others where they actually are rather than where we think they should be or where we wish they were. It allows us to respond to ourselves and others with empathy, compassion, and grace, rather than fear.

The information on the six faith stages below is taken from Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich’s book, The Critical Journey. I want to emphasize that using a model for stages of faith does not in any way confine either God or the individual. Each person reflects the unique and divine image of his or her Creator. This model is simply a description to help us better understand and be prepared for the journey. It’s like a general map, which can be useful when we come upon something we didn’t expect. It doesn’t try to describe every rock, hill, and valley in detail, but provides an overall picture. When thinking about these stages, it’s crucial to acknowledge that no stage is inherently “better” than another, just as an infant is not better than a young adult. They are just in different places in their life journey. We also may re-enter stages that we’ve visited before. God’s love and grace encompass us in every stage, and each stage contributes unique gifts to our personal journey and to the collective body of believers. 

Stage 1: The Recognition of God 

This is the beginning of our faith journey.  

Some key characteristics of this stage include:  

• An awareness and recognition of God; often accompanied by a sense of awe.
• The desire for greater meaning or deepness in life.
• A sense of innocence.
• People can get stuck at this stage when, instead of feeling love and awe of God, they believe we will never measure up and get stuck in unworthiness.
• An important part of moving from stage one to stage two is becoming part of a strong support group and having a leader to follow.

Stage 2: The Life of Discipleship

Some key characteristics of this stage include:

• Focus on learning about God.
• Meaning primarily comes from belonging to a group.
• There is a strong sense of rightness and security in our faith. 
• Answers are often found in a strong leader or belief system (pastor, mentor, etc.).
• It is a season of filling and receiving. 
• People in this stage often become stuck as they adopt a “we against them” mentality, and a rigidity in righteousness – a sense that what is right for our faith is right for everyone else. 
• As we transition from stage two to stage three, we begin to acknowledge our gifts and contributions and seek to steward them well.

Stage 3: The Productive Life

Some key characteristics of this stage include: 

• Faith at this stage centers around working for God. 
• We develop a growing awareness of our uniqueness in our community and desire to use our gifts for the common good. 
• We take on more responsibility in our church community.
• We feel a sense of becoming part of the church body in an active sense.
• People who become stuck in this stage often become fixated on achievement and performance in their faith life. They tend to become rigid about doing things “my way” and over time burn out. 
• Moving from stage three to stage four is often marked by a personal faith crisis or a loss of certainty, and possibly even feeling abandoned by God.

---

What parts of these first stages do you recognize from your journey with God? 

What about those you are ministering to?

---

Most churches do a great job ministering to people in stages 1 through 3 and offer a variety of evangelistic programs, adult Bible classes, small groups, women’s ministries, men’s ministries, and numerous volunteer opportunities for people to become involved and use their gifts. 

As people journey beyond stage 3, however, the church often has few (if any) spaces to support their growth and sense of belonging within the church community.

Stage 4: The Journey Inward

Stage 4 and The Wall are often not discussed much in church life, yet they are vital to understand. As a spiritual director, I’ve walked with many people who are either going through, or have gone through, Stage 4 and The Wall. It can be a scary and disorienting time in their faith life. In fact, many seeking spiritual direction in the first place are at The Wall or Stage 4, and feel alone, guilty, and as if they have done faith “wrong.” Some may even be doubting God. Stage 4 tends to lead into The Wall, and understanding them can provide much-needed support and clarity for those navigating this challenging part of their spiritual journey.

Stage 4 is marked by a life or faith crisis. 

Some key characteristics of this stage include:

• God no longer fits in the box we have created. We desire fewer “answers” and instead search for direction as we pursue God in a more personal way that involves us knowing ourselves and God.
• We may feel like we are losing our faith – at least in the form we once knew. Often the catalyst for this is an event that greatly upsets our status quo. Doubts surface. 
• The spiritual practices that used to work for us (prayer, Bible study, fasting, worship, solitude/silence, etc.) feel dry and just “don’t seem to work anymore.” 
• We can’t see or feel God. God feels distant. We may mistakenly believe that God is absent or has abandoned us.
• Many people never get beyond stage 4 and The Wall. Some may go back to the perceived safety of the early stages, while others become stuck here. People stuck at stage 4 are always looking for answers and become consumed by self-assessment.  
• Being open to the cost of obedience, letting go of our spiritual ego, and following God’s call on our life is critical as we transition from stage four to five.

But first, we must encounter and successfully scale the wall.

The Wall

As Janet Haberg describes it:  

“The Wall is embedded in (and usually at the end of) Stage Four but it is not so much the place of struggle as it is the place of surrender to the work that God is doing in the midst of the struggle. The Wall is the place where one gives over control and allows God to carry them through. It is not the struggle itself but the place of reckoning where one says, “Your will, not mine.” It is a place of surrender–just like Jesus. This very act of surrendering despite the struggles of Stage Four is the place of deep healing that allows us to become much more aware of God’s presence, allows us to forgive on a deeper level, allows us to accept things may not change, and deepens our capacity to love.” 

The Wall is a difficult but necessary prerequisite to entering stage 5. However, many Christians never get over the Wall – what they have to surrender seems too great. It feels like too much of a risk. People often have no one to walk alongside them during this time. It can be isolating and lonely. The movement from Stage 4 to Stage 5 is a dramatic shift from doing for God to being in God.  

Stage 5: The Journey Outward, The Power of Purpose

Some key characteristics of this stage include:

• A renewed sense of God’s acceptance.
• A new sense of calling, vocation, or ministry.
• Deep calm and stillness.
• Concern and focus on others’ best interests – without trying to ‘fix’ them.
• A sense of deepening relationships.
• A willingness to let go and do what God calls us to, despite the consequences, because we truly understand it is in our best interests.

Stages 5 and 6 can be challenging because others may view you differently in this stage.  Once you have scaled The Wall, you have a deeper sense of peace in your relationship with God and a sense of God’s calling.  Because of this, to others, you may seem unconcerned with the “important” and practical things of church life. The busyness characterizing Stage 3 is replaced by service that is more specifically focused on what God has called you to and working in God’s power and timing, which may seem less productive to others.   

Stage 6: The Life of Love

Some key characteristics of this stage include:

• Living out of sacrificial love for others.
• Struggles are seen as places where God is with us, we gain wisdom from our experiences.
• Detachment from things and stress because we truly see God as our source.
• A life abandoned to God in obedience.
• Rarely motivated by what motivated you in other stages.

No matter where you are on your spiritual journey or what stage you find yourself in, it is crucial to remember that God’s love is not dependent on your progress. The beautiful truth is that God meets you and loves you exactly as you are, right where you are. 

---

As you look through the stages outlined by The Critical Journey, what elements resonate with your own faith journey? 

Can you identify a “Wall” experience? If so, how are you different now than before that experience? How is your relationship with God different?

Do you have someone who journeys alongside you and helps you navigate the terrain of faith? 

---

Perhaps you’d like to consider how a spiritual director might be a trusted guide who could accompany you on your journey of faith. If you’d like to have a conversation with us to explore what this might look like, please contact us and we will follow up with you.