Straight Paths

Proverbs 3:5-6

“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.”

Hiking can be difficult. Even when the terrain is easy, hiking is still a workout, but if we take a wrong path, we can soon find ourselves in a place we can’t get out of. Rocky, steep terrain is a recipe for disaster, often leading to injury. Experienced hikers know the importance of staying on the right path. They know how dangerous it can be to leave the path, make a wrong turn, or end up in an unfamiliar place.

Scripture talks a lot about the paths or roads of life. God promises to level our paths, to make them smooth. He promises to lead us down the paths of righteousness. BUT we have to trust Him. God knows the plans He has for us. God knows the potential pit falls along the route we are taking through life. He knows where the path leads and where we might get sidetracked. Often, we can’t see that far ahead.

If we rely solely on ourselves, our understanding, our vision, what we can see and comprehend, we’re going to end up in a place where we can no longer navigate safely. We are limited people. That’s why God tells us to trust in Him, to trust in His vision, His knowledge and His understanding.

When we acknowledge our limitations and turn control of our lives over to God, He leads us along the right path. We don’t have to worry about making a wrong turn or ending up somewhere with no way of getting to the other side. This passage tells us that it isn’t enough to trust God in the big things. We need to trust God in ALL our ways. Every day. In the big things and in the small things because the truth is that we don’t always know the difference between the big choices that have everlasting consequences and the little choices that don’t.

When we know God and who He is, we know that we can safely trust Him. We know that He loves us more than we can even begin to understand. His love will never leave us or forsake. His love will protect us and direct us if we let go of our need to understand, put our hand in His, and simply trust in Him to lead us in the right direction.

Father, I thank you that you love me. I thank you that you want good things for me, the best things. You have a plan and a purpose for my life. You know that road that will get me to where you want me to be. You know the crossroads and the pitfalls. I can trust you to lead me safely to where you want me to be. Lord, today I am placing my trust in you. In big things and in small things. In all things, Lord, I will rely on you to guide me through. Thank you for making my paths smooth and straight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.