This morning I was reading ahead in my devotional, as I sometimes do, and April 2021 is focusing on trusting God. While I was meditating on the message, God reminded me of Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NIV). Which, by the way, was not the focus of that day’s lesson.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Two words, from that scripture, were highlighted in my mind, “paths straight.” Suddenly, God gave me this image of myself, driving in my car, with a GPS mounted to my dashboard.
While waiting for God to work in my life and answer my prayer, He asked me to “program in” Proverbs 3: 5-6 into my “spiritual” GPS.
At the beginning of this journey, the path was mostly smooth, and I felt peace even with the few bumps that came along the road. It is easy to stay in my lane and remain focused straight ahead.
After a while, I feel too restful in the quiet, so I turn the radio onto a popular country station. What follows are songs about loneliness, drinking, and love gone wrong, and slowly the problems of the world start enveloping my mind and soul.
And yet, a gentle voice is calling me back to Him saying, “There is worship music plugged into three other channels on your radio. Come back to my rest through this, and I will bless your weary soul.”
Not heeding the wise counsel, I continue listening to this music and notice my once smooth road contains potholes and debris. Now, my anxiety and worry are increasing, causing me to become distracted by all the things occurring off the freeway.
Billboards soon begin coming into my view featuring promises for a better life if I just exit now.
“Oh, the next exit has a bar. Is that where I can chase the feelings of fear away, if only for a moment?”
Again, the gentle voice comes back to me. A little louder this time.
“Stay in your lane. Do not stray from this path. I can give you more–so much more than you can imagine–if you let Me direct you to more than you ever thought possible.”
Slowly, my heartbeat begins to settle and I allow myself to rest.
As the miles tick by, I notice the path becomes a little bit easier.
Mile 5 becomes mile 10. Oh, now 15 miles…
“Did God leave me? Is He still directing my path?”
The peace that surrounded me at the beginning of this journey has now been replaced with fear. This path feels endless and I feel my patience rising. Too much time has gone by. I need to get off this freeway and make my own way.
Seeing an exit up ahead, I turn towards it, while ignoring the bells and whistles of danger going off in my heart and mind.
Moving forward, in this lane I created, I encounter more potholes, curves, and danger than I have experienced this whole time.
And yet, I still continue my own way, never once stopping to consider what I had programmed in my “spiritual GPS” when this journey started.
Feeling weary, heartbroken, and so very tired, I spy something just ahead on the horizon.
“Wait? Could it be?”
“Yes, it is!!”
I caught myself saying, “Praise God!” My answered prayer was up ahead. “God came through. He did hear me!”
As I pulled up, I felt that same, small voice speak to my heart. “This was the destination I had for you from the beginning. My plans are to always prosper you and not to harm you. Trust in Me. Always.”
At that moment, I felt a check in my heart.
“Did I create those obstacles on my own? Was the fear, doubt, and insecurity intensified because of listening to the distractions around me?”
I knew in my heart and soul that I could learn from my broken path by seeking forgiveness and redemption from the One that loves me forever and always–my Lord and Savior Jesus.
With forgiveness in my heart, the Lord reminded me of two scriptures.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3: 22-23 (NIV)
So, as I begin a new day with Jesus, I am going to program my Spiritual GPS with His Truth and the Word of God. However, today I am going to remember His Faithfulness from yesterday and apply it to today. And tomorrow.
What about you? Who is directing your path today?
All the glory to God,
Shanon Crenshaw
Works Cited:
Image of Psalm 37: 23-24 by Heartlight.org. “God directs and restores Godly People.”
Heaven Sent Sentiments 