“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your way acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
The road was snowy and icy. I was nervous as I headed to town. Up ahead along the highway, I saw a sight that greatly eased my mind. Blue and red flashing lights signaled: Snowplow ahead. Many drivers are frustrated when they see those lights, for it means they must slow down. I heave a sigh of relief, knowing that the snowplow, though traveling more slowly, is going ahead of me, making my path straight and safe.
As I delighted in the clear highway ahead, I pondered how much this is like what God does for us throughout our life’s journey, when we seek to trust in Him, instead of our own understanding. It is so easy to trust in ourselves, not only when we are young and think we know everything, but especially as we age, as we have lived a long time and learned a lot of things. This in turn, can create a false sense of security when it comes to being able to forge ahead with projects and ideas without first consulting God.
If we want to get where we are going however, to accomplish the goals we have been led to set, forge ahead into new experiences and relationships, leaning not on our own understanding but on God’s is always the best to proceed. God knows all the ins and outs of our every situation. He knows our hopes and dreams. He is aware of what He has placed within our hearts to accomplish. He knows each pothole, each valley and hill, each dead end, every curve and roadblock and detour which is up ahead on the path we travel. Therefore, who better to guide and direct us in our plans, our timing, our travels, but him? No one, no one at all.
Let us therefore, implore the Holy Spirit daily to remind us, to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding; in all our ways to acknowledge him, that he will make our paths straight now and always.
Prayer: Father God thank You that you and you alone can always be trusted and counted upon to make our pathways straight, when we take the time to trust and acknowledge you and your ways, ahead of our own. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada