AS I WALK THIS PATH

OF LIFE

 Recently we took an extended hike in the mountains.  Our destination was to see a beautiful waterfall and then to see the gigantic rocks along the river.

The path started wide and straight, with lovely trees along the way.  Then the path began to get steeper, and there were more rocks in the path.  Then we begin to climb, and the climb became so steep that my husband held me by the hand as we walked higher and higher. 

Then there were rocks, more and more of them.  I am not very agile when it comes to climbing over rocks.  I am always afraid my feet will slip, but my faithful husband continued to hold my hand and guide me over the rocks and to see the falls as they cascaded down the mountainside.  Oh, the beauty of God’s creation!

After seeing the falls, we headed back down the path and to the river.  But first came more climbing over rocks, even steeper than our previous climb.  And there they were, enormous rocks, with the river flowing over and around them.  And many people were bathing their feet in the cold waters of the river.  As I looked around at the enormous rocks, the cascading river, the trees, I begin to liken this experience to my walk with the Lord and how He guides me down the pathway of life, even though there may be enormous rocks in my pathway.  And I am reminded that He is my Rock, He is my Fortress, and He is my deliverer (Psalm 18:2).  My God is immovable and He never changes and He is as solid as those rocks!

You may have enormous rocks in your pathway today.  Some of those rocks are big enough to climb on and others are gigantic.  We may have rocks of cancer in our pathway.  There may be rocks of fear, anguish, grief, financial stress.  In the midst of our darkest nights God promises to light a lamp and bring light to your darkness. (Psalm 18:28)  And our Lord Jesus has walked the path of suffering, and is ever full of love and compassion for your tears.

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps” Proverbs 16:9.

As we walk this pathway, we may plan where we are going, but as we serve the LORD and seek His will for our lives, it is the LORD that will direct our steps.  He will guide us in the right direction and down the path for our lives, according to His will.  And isn’t it wonderful to know that He is leading us and guiding us all the way, no matter what the obstacles that may lie ahead on that pathway. 

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” Psalm 16:11.

Oh, the joy of walking down that pathway with Jesus!  And He reminds us that we can look up toward our final destination.  “God will guide me with His counsel, and then lead me home to glory” Psalm 73:24.

And then the path gets steeper.  There are obstacles in my path.  Sometimes I feel I cannot take another step.  I just don’t have the strength to go on.  Sometimes the storms come on my pathway and I can hardly see my way ahead, and it may be dark and fearful times in my life.   Are you going through similar circumstances right now?  You don’t know which path to take, and the path you are on is steep and narrow?

“God will bring me by a way I did not know; God will lead me in paths I have not known.  He will make darkness light before me, and crooked places straight.  God will do these things for me, and not forsake me” Isaiah 42:16.

God knows the way ahead, and it may be on a pathway that we have never trod before.    For He promises He will never leave us or forsake us ( Hebrews 13:5-6).  Oh, what a Wonderful God we serve!

And as I walked that path, I was so fearful of losing my footing and falling.  There were many rocks to climb over and I was not sure where to plant my feet safely.  But on my pathway walking with our Lord He promises: “I will walk safely in my way, and my foot will not stumble; for the Lord will be my confidence, and will keep my foot from being caught. (Proverbs 3:23 & 26).

And as I trod this path, my husband holding my hand up the steep trail and over the rocks, I was reminded of My Heavenly Father who promises to hold my right hand (Psalm 139:10).  And He is also our Shepherd always leading and guiding us always upward toward the goal.

“One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, I press toward the goal of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13-14.

So we keep pressing on this pathway that He has set us on, even though there may be rocks of testing and trial in our pathway.  The climb may be steep and rocky, but we never look back, for our Wonderful God is holding our hand all the way, as we continually look upward.  We look forward to our heavenly prize ahead, and that is our goal.  Praise the Lord!

Blessings as you continue to walk this pathway with our Lord!

Pastor Sharon