Following God's Path

 

How often I think about the paths where I've come to a split in the road. Each way promises success, prosperity, pleasure, and satisfaction. But only one way can be chosen, so I analyze, and stress over, which direction is correct.

Honestly, I'd love to find a way to have it all. 

But this adds to the stress I already carry, as I attempt to juggle, unsuccessfully, everything. It's as though I believe I will be more successful and acceptable if I heap all the opportunities on my shoulders ... and finish.

Inevitably, something will fall through those proverbial cracks. Missed appointments are concerning, but when I begin to wake in the morning more tired than when I lay down at night; when the space in my mind is so foggy a travel advisory should be issued; or when I am so overwhelmed I begin to cry at a bird looking cross-eyed at me, something is out of alignment.

So, how do we know which path to take?

How will we know regret won't follow us down our chosen road?

One thing we must do is stop and take each path before our Father who has great plans for our lives. He designed us with specific qualities, personalities, and abilities. He also knows where we are weakest and most vulnerable.

Next, we go to Scripture, where we might not find specific direction but will find words like, "seek peace and pursue it ..." (Psalm 34: 14b). This portion of the passage begins with "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing" (v 8 - 10). The Apostle Peter repeats this, knowing it is vital to our success, "Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and. pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous. And His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil" (1 Peter 3: 11 - 12).

We follow these steps up with movement. Take a step in the direction that brings most peace. It may not make sense to anyone, even you. It may look daunting, impossible even. You might not feel qualified, but the thought of the journey is both exhilarating and frightening, but as Jay Austin and his wife in the film Flywheel said, produces a serene chaos.

Several years ago, I attended a writers' conference in Orange County, California. During this event, I was given an opportunity to sit and chat for 15-minutes with one of the speakers. My choice was author, Bill Myers. I'd enjoyed his testimony, inspired by it, actually. I had to ask him, "How do you know, once you've done the seeking and the reading, that you're stepping in the right direction?"

In his most descriptive way, he showed me what it looks like to take a step of faith, pause, wait for the "nod" of heaven then take another step.  In his words, some of the opportunities he's walked out have been nothing short of miraculous.

The key, he told me, is to take the step.

If we fail to take the step, we will inevitably be trapped by regrets' taunting voice, exposing our insecurity and lack of faith. 

When we step out, even if it's the wrong direction, our Father God has a beautiful navigation system (better than GPS) he uses to redirect our course. It's the measure of our heart, He sees and responds to. He knows whether we were in it for selfish gain or His glory. He is more than able to show us the way.

There are a couple questions I had to answer when deciding on birth center versus hospital birth for my third child. There would be no do-overs.

Does this, in any way, offend the truth of Scripture? 

Yes? STOP.

No? If you don't do this, will you wonder if you could have? 

Take the step, friend. I'm cheering for you.💞