“Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.” Isaiah 42:16 NIV.

God is not the author of your confusion; God is the Answer.

Life is not predictable. No matter how long you’ve lived or how much you’ve experienced, you have not seen everything there is to see or been everywhere there is to be. There are twists and turns you will not foresee. When you think you have life all figured out, you will find yourself walking an unfamiliar path, again. It is easy to feel lost, unsure of which way to turn. It is easy to actually be lost, if you do not have truth to guide you. That is not to frighten you, but to make you wise. The Psalmist knew where truth is found, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 NKJV.

Yogi Berra, renowned New York Yankee, was known for his malapropisms, such as, “I really didn’t say everything I said,” or ”You can observe a lot by watching.” When you are confused and unsure, a lot of advice is about as helpful as another of his quotes, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Life is neither the product of chance nor random choice; your life has direction and destiny. God is not the author of your confusion; God is the Answer. See 1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV. A sovereign, all-powerful God has His hand upon your life.  Of that, you can be certain. Read Psalm 32:8 NIV.

Sometimes, an unfamiliar path is just a new path taking you where God means determines. Walk it bravely, leaning on His Word for assurance and direction. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV. But at other times, life’s misdirection can be the result of poor choices; return to the more familiar path. Turn to God. See Psalm 37:23-24 NIV/Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV.

At such moments, there is One to whom you can turn, to whom you must turn. Meditate on God’s promise, “Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.” Isaiah 42:16 NIV. “Unfamiliar paths” accurately describes many times in life. Read Psalm 18:28-30NKJV. I love my amazing wife’s spirit of adventure. Feeling lost frustrates me, but never bothers her. She defines lost as, “finding new places she hasn’t been before.” That’s how life in Christ should be lived.

The path unfamiliar to you is not unfamiliar to your God. He who “knows the end from the beginning” is aware of the circumstances that surround you now and the path that waits ahead for you. In such a time, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.’” Isaiah 30:21NKJV.

Remember Job? Job found himself on an unfamiliar path; Job also found God there, as will you. “Look, I go forward, but He is not there . . But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”Job 23:8-12 NKJV. Joyfully anticipate the moment you “will come forth as gold,” refined and reflecting Jesus.Jesus said, “I am the Way, and the Truth , and the Life.” John 14:6 NIV. Stay close to Jesus and you are never lost, on unfamiliar paths maybe. But lost, never.

My prayer for you today is for you to know God is alongside you, wherever you walk.

Devotionals author of confusion, destiny, direction, fork in the road, Isaiah 42:16, job, Job 23:8-12, John 14:6, new places, poor choices, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 18:28-30, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 37:23-24, unfamiliar paths, Yogi Berra

“I will instruct you . . in the way you should go.” Psalm 32:8 NIV

“God is not Google! Google is about information; God is about relationship.”

My thoughts today ask “what’s next?”

Have  you ever wished you could see into the future? Sometimes you just don’t know what to do, which way to turn, or where to go. Life will have a few of those anxious places along the way. Don’t panic. You are not lost; you may just be momentarily confused about what’s next.

Actually, I can think of a few good things about being at such a directional junction occasionally. That could mean that you’ve accomplished something where you’ve been and are ready for what’s next; that’s a good thing. It could also mean that you know God has more for you; you’re not finished yet. That’s a good thing too. Or it could mean that God is waiting for you to ask Him for His wisdom and direction. That is a very good thing!

When you don’t know what’s ahead for you, God does. The Bible says God “declares the end from the beginning.” See Isaiah 46:9-10 NLT. I think He could be quite helpful when making your decisions, don’t you? Still, you have an important part to play in discovery.

Your future is filled with near-unlimited possibilities. Some measure of realizing those is up to you; all of your doing so will include your depending upon God. When you think you best know what’s next, you are just guessing really. Sometimes you guess well; sometimes you guess wrong. God is never guessing.

The internet is amazing. A Google search can reveal a mind-boggling amount of information, giving you access to anything and everything contained on the internet. The problem is I rarely know how to ask the right question to obtain the answer I need. Wouldn’t it be simple if you could Google anything you wanted or needed to know from God? Really now, do you always know how to specifically ask God when you are unclear about what’s next?

God is not Google! Google is about getting information for you (and making money from advertisers); God is about having a relationship with you. He wants you to know what’s next for your life, but first, God wants you to know Him. “The steps (and stops) of the Godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23 NLT.

I would be sad if my wife or family were only interested in information from me more than knowing who I am. Because of our relationship, I am willing and wanting to share anything that would be helpful for them to live wisely. Why would I want less for those I love? “No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right. O Lord, happy are those who trust in You.” Psalm 84:11-12 NLT.

Understanding that the primary intention of God is for you to truly know Him, here’s what I have learned about knowing and doing the will of God. When you want to do His will perfectly and completely, God will direct you to what’s next. “I know, Lord, that a person’s life is not His own. No one is able to plan His own course . . Trust in the lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Jeremiah 10:23 NLT and Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV.

Your next step should always be in the direction of God’s will. Read Romans 12:1-2 NIV. On a very practical note, He does not tell you all the steps all at once; God tells you what your next step will be. If you knew everything ahead, you could either become fearful or fascinated. If fearful, you might refuse to move from where you are and be disobedient. If fascinated, you could rush too far too fast and miss the experience along the way that’s necessary for your success. The matter is simple: trust God for what’s next.

My prayer for you today is that you know God and trust Him with your life.

Devotionals God's will, Google, guessing, Isaiah 46:9-10, Jeremiah 10:23, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 84:11, relationship, Romans 12:1-2