When we are following God, we often have no idea where we will go. That is not a new idea for me, though. I am as directionally challenged as they come. I have spent hours running and on a bike without a clue of where I was. I had no idea how I got there and no idea of how to get home. Some people would tell me to depend on a compass, but to me, it just seems to spin and that really tells me little to nothing. Some will tell me to retrace my steps. That’s great if I had steps to retrace, except I don’t know how I got to where I am. If I turn around, it doesn’t look any clearer than when I look forward. I usually simply depend on the person I am following. Even if I am leading the group, I constantly confirm that I am still on the right path (just to make sure they are not depending on me to actually know where we are going – they usually only make that mistake once).
All of this may sound like a significant problem, almost a disability. It can even make me sound a bit helpless. But I, instead, think about how God has created me to follow him. Since I am not accustomed to knowing the way, I can rest in him to show me. I am better equipped to seek him at every turn rather than trying to plow through my own way. And if I try to go it on my own, it doesn’t take long before I look around and realize that I am, once again, lost. This provides me the opportunity to stop, be still, and listen. God can lead me to the right path. Maybe being directionally challenged is God’s plan for me all along. Maybe I’ll just follow him.
What path are you taking today? Who are you following? How might you seek a new direction, a road to somewhere with Someone that loves you? May our paths be guided and directed by God, may he redirect us when we are off course, and save us when we are lost.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 25:4-5
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 