"Then you will know which way to go,
since you have never been this way before.”
—Joshua
3:4, NIV
Are you constantly on the move yet at the end of the
day wonder what you’ve accomplished? Do you spin your wheels only to
find, you're stuck? Like me, You may have days when you question if you're
even moving in the right direction?
In Alice’s pursuit of the White Rabbit in Lewis Carroll’s, Alice in Wonderland, Alice said to the Cheshire Cat:
In Alice’s pursuit of the White Rabbit in Lewis Carroll’s, Alice in Wonderland, Alice said to the Cheshire Cat:
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from
here?"
"That depends a good deal on where
you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where—" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where—" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
At
times, I’m directionally challenged,
but unlike Alice―I do care where I’m going. It’s frustrating when
my GPS takes me miles out of my way, or the directions someone
has given me are wrong. Sometimes, we need a good old-fashioned road map, or better yet, someone to
follow.
Years
ago, I
was driving my car down a narrow two-lane road. Fog and rain made it difficult
for me to see, but I spotted a tractor-trailer pulling out from the
intersection ahead. Typically, I don’t
want a truck in front of me, blocking my vision and slowing me down, but that
night, I was thankful the truck was there. It was easier for me follow its
taillights along the dark and winding road than to navigate the route alone.
In Joshua 3, the Israelites camped along the east bank of the Jordan River
at the edge of the Promised Land. They were waiting for God to instruct Joshua
on when to move out and claim the territory for themselves. As they faced the
raging Jordan River and an area occupied
by the enemy, God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. He reminded him that
he would go with them and would never
leave or forsake them.
The same applies to
us. As believers, God calls us to do his will. Although the way is not always easy to
discern, he doesn’t intend for us to chart our own
course. He’s given us his Word as a roadmap and has sent the Holy Spirit as our guide. We have
everything we need to navigate the perilous roads ahead.
God
cares where you’re going. Wait for him. Place his Word before you and
thank him for his guidance. He’ll lead you safely to your destination.
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice
behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'"
(Isaiah 30:21, NIV).
Now it's your turn. I always welcome your comments.
Blessings,
Starr
**This article was first published in Thrive magazine, March 2017
