In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him ~ Hannah Flaugher
Psalm 25:4
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
Some of you are old enough to remember when you had to read an actual map to drive somewhere new (I don't remember that. I’m not THAT old yet.)
Some of us are from the time when you had the printout direction from online "MapQuest" (That's my era.). I remember using those printed out directions to drive to college in Elgin, IL. I was on my way to Providence Baptist College. I was living in Michigan at the time, so I was going to be driving straight through Chicago. I was a "small town" chick. I wasn't used to driving through huge cities like Chicago... so needless to say, I was terrified!! I wanted to keep my eyes glued to the printed-out directions! I didn't want to accidentally miss a turn and end up in Florida or something. Haha I made it without getting lost, but it was because I followed those directions VERY closely. I had no idea where I was driving. In my mind, I had no clue what turns to make to get me to Providence. I knew what end I wanted, but all the stuff in-between... no idea. Without directions I would've been beyond lost and confused.
Driving some streets and roads can also be quite confusing. At some intersections, turning left is illegal. The driver is required to turn right, go a short distance, and then make a U-turn to head in the desired direction. Sometimes you have the go a little ways up, make a left turn at a light, and then you can turn around then go your desired direction. In Michigan we call that a "Michigan left turn". SO frustrating. Sometimes there might be a round-about — a crazy of traffic flow that sends all vehicles in a left-handed circle until the sought after exit is reached. "Who designed this?" is often what i think.
Many times, throughout different seasons of our life, we feel frustrated. We think we know exactly where we should be. We think we know right where we need to be at that given time. That season. However, circumstances or roadblocks seem to be forcing us in the wrong direction or trapping us in endless circles, much like those "round-abouts". We stubbornly focus on the destination we are certain is best for us. We might think "Surely I’m not meant to go through this valley... I don't remember this being in-between "point A and point B". It's supposed to be a smooth road. "Maybe if I take this little short-cut, I can bypass all this and still get to my desired destination. It won't matter much, as long as I can just get there". There's an awful lot of the word "I" in there.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - says:
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
We so easily trust friends/family when they give us directions from here to there. We trust complete strangers sometimes to give us directions! In this day and age, we trust Google to get us where we need to go. Google will always give us clear directions. But yet we question, and even sometimes reject direction from God. From our creator. From the One who loves us more than anyone ever could. We try and say to Him... "No, I don't think that's the right way. Maybe if we went this direction instead
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
God sees what we cannot. His ways are best. His ways aren't to cause harm. We can trust Him to lead us, even when the route is rough, and difficult to understand.
Psalms 32:8 - I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
On this road we're on, letting go and trusting God completely, can turn our frustrations to peace and joy. We can start a daily habit of asking God for His perfect direction through each day. Then, when a 'round-about" comes, and frustration begins to build, we can remember to let go and trust his direction. "Thoughts of peace and not of evil". He loves us so much and wants us to get to that desired end safely. Our gracious Father has the path already planned for our journey.
We can trust Him.