“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NLT)
Following a path, especially at night, even with a light can be difficult. Yet it seems as we grow in the Lord, we have this mistaken idea that our way as a believer should be paved and well lit. Where did we get such an idea? Certainly, not in the Bible.
Think of Joseph about whom we spoke a few days ago, or Abraham, the father of our faith, or Moses, or David, or the prophets, and especially the Lord Jesus! Anyone who sets their face to follow God’s plan is guaranteed to have trials, troubles, and hard times. Jesus clearly stated in John 16:33: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
The Lord doesn’t open clear pathways for us before we come to them or even provide help before we need it. He isn’t some spiritual bulldozer who goes before us clearing the way, yet when we need Him, He’s always near to help us address every need. Too often we let the worries of what might be paralyze and immobilize us from ever taking any meaningful steps for the Lord. We want to envision miles of clear highway before us when God promises “a lamp to guide my feet,” not a floodlight.
We’re too quick to forget Psalm 46 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” God’s help is “present,” not future. Remember God is ever-present, which means He is present in every moment from the beginning of time to the end of time. Yes, absolutely He will be with us in the future, but not until WE are there in time. He goes before us and waits for us, preparing the way so we can accomplish His plans and purposes, but sometimes those plans include hardships and trials we’d never choose for ourselves.
But why? Just as athletes are shaped and formed through rigorous training, so, we as children of God must exercise our faith in and through hardships, trials, and troubles. We’ll grow soft and useless unless and until our faith is challenged. We must not believe trials are meant to hurt or push us away from the Lord, quite to the contrary, they’re designed to draw us into His holy arms.
Our way isn’t open for us to see from start to finish, only the next step, that’s why it’s called faith, and according to Hebrews 11:6 “it is impossible to please God without faith.” Faith isn’t given in its fullness at the beginning of our journey, but grows, develops, and expands as we exercise it. Our faith muscles are strengthened; thus, the Lord allows our troubles to increase because He knows with His help we can handle them.
Are you in a difficult season? The Lord knows! He’s with you and for you! He knows your need and His presence will equip you with strength in each moment as you need it. Don’t worry about tomorrow, next week, next month or even 10 minutes from now, just bask in His holy, comforting, strengthening presence in THIS MOMENT!
He’s all you need, all you’ll ever need and will be with you every step of your faith-journey, regardless of how hard it might become. You’ve got all you need because you have HIM! Trust Him in this moment and the next and the next as He continually opens His way before you as He has faithfully opened His way for me for many, many years.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 