Pathways of Life

Wandering along through life I stumble upon a paved pathway, all smooth and flat and straight and beautiful.

The way is clear, the direction is easily understood. Not much effort is required. This part of the journey through life is easy and peaceful and welcome. I know where I am and where I am going.

Even the curves and adjustments in our direction are gentle and clearly visible. Inclines and descents require a little more effort or use of different muscles. We are challenged at times to continue on the path. We may need to lean into the Creator or rest upon His bosom or clutch His guiding hand as we encounter life’s minor bumps and mishaps.

We are thankful for the bridges God has provided when deep waters of adversity appear out of no where. He covers the path with His love and we can safely cross over to more peaceful days.

But there are times that the pathway takes us into dark and shadowy places. Here we must stay in tune with our Creator and trust His guidance and His goodness. Sometimes in the shadows, we must proclaim these characteristics that make God who He says He is out of a deep faith knowing them to be the truth, but not being able to SEE their truthfulness. Faith is not really faith until we believe without sight. In these shadowy places, the sunbeams are blocked from our eyes. The path is less clear, less defined, less sure but no less present, no less needed, no less ours to follow. The shadows are the proof that God’s light shines. The shadows can not exist apart from the light shining brightly on the other side of the interference. The intricate patterns on our path are drawn by the combination of God’s goodness and Satan’s attempts to hinder our pursuit of holiness and wholehearted fellowship with the Living God, our loving Savior.

Rocky places in the pathway make us lean not on our own understanding but on the truth of God’s word. Treasures and trinkets are often found among the stony ground. We must pay attention to our steps and the intensity of our focus helps us see the details of God’s ways. We see the engravings in His hands as evidence of His undeserved love. We see more clearly the details of the Savior’s sacrifice. We recognize our total dependence on an all knowing Father.

Sometimes the pathways in our life seem to go in circles, round and round with the same old issues, the same struggles, the same routine, the same job, the same successes, the same patterns of failure to achieve in our areas of weakness. Expending energy and resources but no real progress is made. We’re not going any where—just moving in circles. Perhaps these circles serve a purpose. Perhaps they are a part of a mass of concentric circles that pulls us closer and closer to the Christ who resides on a throne inside our inmost being. Each time around the circle, the cycles of ups and downs are blending into each other making us stronger and more resistant to the pull of Satan’s temptations.

Lord, it’s your companionship along the pathways that make the journey meaningful.

“Where you go, I will go.” Ruth 16:1