As I sit here and think about
the upcoming year, I wonder what it will truly hold.
Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many
are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
I
could predict and plan for hours, but my life is all in God’s hands. I cannot
control this year any more than I can control the wind. There have been times
when I fought for control and it terrified me to let go and simply trust God.
Yet, it is when I try to be in control that my life is a mess. When I trust
God, my life is anything but normal.
Here’s how I see it:
With God, my life is often
like a long hike; I walk along not knowing what’s around the next bend or over
the next rise. I gaze, eyes wide open, at ugly truth and unabashed beauty. I
see canyons of pain and fountains of joy. At times, the warmth of the sun brings
alive the colors around me. Other times, the rain seems to wash it all away.
There are mountains to climb, valleys to traverse and meadows to meander.
Sometimes God tells me to keep going, when I want to stop to aid in healing or
just sit and gaze at the beauty. I listen for His guidance, I look for His
direction and I wait and pray when I am unsure.
Occasionally, I stumble upon a
group of travelers with their own map and schedule. They laugh at my lack of
preparation and mock my explanations about my Guide. They say, they’ve heard of
“my kind” and tell me I’ll be sorry one day. They boast of their plans and
control. I walk away mourning their false security.
Others I meet cry out for
help. They are poor of heart: lost, alone and afraid. I share with them about
my Guide and how He loves them. I tell them, “All you have to do is let go.
Trust Him.” I share stories of my journey. I share the truth my Guide has
shared with me.
Now the choice is theirs.
Will they choose to believe?
Will
they follow where He leads?
