When you can't see where you're going...

by Elizabeth Stewart

I vividly remember the first time that Psalm 32:8 became real and personal in my life. It was my senior year of high school, the year everyone asks you the question, "What are you going to do after you graduate?".  I remember feeling overwhelmed that everyone expected me to know what I wanted to do with my life and to have my next steps all figured out.  The truth was, I had quite a list of things I maybe wanted to do with my life, but nothing that clearly marked the path that I should take. That's about the time I stumbled across this verse that promised me that God would instruct and teach me in the way I should go.  What a comfort that was to me!  Forty years down the road, I can say that God definitely did guide me and has continued to do so throughout the years since.

Like the photo above, we can sometimes go through foggy seasons.  The horizon and all of the familiar landmarks that normally help us to know which direction to go seem hidden.  The good news is, while all that we are used to depending on for our sense of direction seems hidden, while we may feel lost, no matter how thick that fog is God knows exactly where we are and exactly what our next step should be.  His eye is on us and always will be.   However, God isn't going to lasso us with a rope and lead us around.  He will instruct, teach, and counsel us, but we have to be willing to listen and then follow His instructions!

As a high school senior, I began to ask for God to guide me and show me what to do and He did just that. I just had to keep my eyes, ears, and heart open and my will yielded to follow.  The ways He led me weren't as clear as a list from heaven marked "A) go here" and "B) do this". But, there was an encouraging note that arrived in my mailbox one day which spoke to me about God's gifts and callings in my life helping me to see some possibilities I hadn't thought of yet. There were scholarships and other ways God provided that led me to conclude that He was leading me to go to college.  There was an acceptance letter from the school I chose.  In each of these ways I sensed His hand on me, leading and guiding me step by step.

I'm turning sixty years old later this summer.  I feel a bit like I did back in my senior year of high school, like I'm supposed to have the whole rest of my life mapped out. But, it all just looks foggy to me! However, I've learned to trust in the One Who promises to instruct, teach, and counsel me in the way I should go.  He's done a great job of it so far, and I know that His eye is on me still. So I'm here with my eyes, ears, and heart open to Him and my will yielded to follow.  Whatever He has in mind for me, I know it's going to be good.

still following,

www.justfollowingjesus.com