God’s guidance
The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. Psalm 138:8
When you sing about it or listen to a sermon on the subject, guidance can often sound very straightforward. But life rarely runs in a straight line. King David, who wrote this psalm, was definitely aware of that. He got himself into endless scrapes and was always up against determined opposition. He was never without external enemies but, in addition, there were often many within Israel, and even within his own family, who were determined to bring him down. He was acutely aware of his need to rely upon the Lord for guidance.
I am convinced that God has good plans for our lives, but those good things won’t happen without our full cooperation. God won’t enforce his plans upon us, good as they are. It has been wisely said that there is no point in asking God to guide our footsteps if we are not willing to move our feet. Sitting in an armchair, waiting for guidance, is rarely the way to discover God’s will. We need to get up and start walking. As we do so, I believe God will lead us in the right way.
If you have known the Lord for many years, I suspect that you will do what I do and look back and reflect on how clear God’s guidance was. But even though it now looks clear and straightforward, at the time, there were plenty of questions, doubts and concerns.
We have moved home on a number of occasions and, every time, we have needed guidance on a whole range of issues. Within months they all worked out but, at that particular moment, it was hard work. If your life is calm and you feel you are currently in the place God wants you to be, rejoice. But many of you will be facing significant questions and feel anything but calm. I want to encourage you that God has good plans for you and, by his Spirit, will lead you. You can be sure of this: God made you, he loves you and he will never abandon you.
QUESTION
In what ways are you seeking God’s guidance at the moment?
PRAYER
Loving God, thank you that you are the God who guides. Help me to let your Spirit lead me each day. Amen