Steps

I am uncomfortable not knowing where I’m going.  A few weeks ago I pulled out of a parking lot in a small river town in Virginia.  About a mile down the road, I realized that I didn’t actually know how to get back to the cabin we had rented for the weekend.  I used to be able to remember these things but I have become reliant on Google.  You know where this goes…at this point I did not have a signal, so google maps was not an option.  I decided to press on, hoping that either I would recognize the route or that Google would find a connection.  Fifteen minutes later nothing was familiar and still no signal was available.  I had a growing concern that I may actually be lost.  Then I found a Dollar General store and guess what…free customer wifi!  

I returned safely to the cabin only thirty minutes later than expected.  That aimless wandering without any idea which way to go…that stretched me.  I was extremely grateful to realize that I was no longer lost.

Being “lost” is not something that brings comfort to any of us.  We feel secure knowing where we are going.  There are times in life and along our faith journey where we realize that we really don’t know where we are heading.  The path is rough and challenging and we don’t know when or even if it will get better because we just can’t see it.  We are too far to turn around but also unsure what waits ahead.  There are moments where we are not sure where to go next.

“The Human One came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10

It is more than okay-even expected-that we would not be able to see the entire path God has laid before us.  There will be moments along the way where that reality, that we don’t fully know where we are heading, will weigh heavily.  If the path is particularly challenging, it will be even more intense and frustrating.  Focusing on the parts of this path that we can’t see isn’t helpful and will only intensify the growing concern that we are lost. 

In those overwhelming moments in life, don’t get lost trying to see the entire path, just pay attention to the next step. Through Jesus, God provided our guide revealing each step along the way. One step at a time, you will not be led astray.