DANGER …TRAIL CLOSED … NO HIKING
The sign stopped me in my tracks. I was in the middle of nowhere on a solo hike that had gone perfectly fine until now. “Okay, Lord, now what?” was my prayer as I looked around, contemplating my next steps.
I’m an avid hiker. The challenge of hiking a new trail, seeing beautiful scenery, and capturing unique photos exhilarates me. In extreme weather conditions, with a partner or alone, every day is a good day for a hike.
The most important aspect of hiking is preparation. I spend as much time planning as I do hiking. First, I must consider the trail’s location, length, and difficulty. Then there’s mundane stuff to consider: snacks, hydration, a map, and proper attire. There are other details to ponder, but you get the idea.
Once, I set off on a new trail, map in hand, just as I had done dozens of other times. I had hiked about two-thirds of the trail when a large DANGER sign suddenly loomed before me. Now what? The trail app directed me to go one way, but a clear warning sign told me otherwise. I took a deep breath and studied my trail app, comparing what I saw on my phone to my surroundings and finally decided on what appeared to be the route other hikers had taken instead of the original trail.
Proverbs clearly tells us that we can plan, but God ultimately gets us where we’re going in His timing and in His way. We see examples of this in Scripture with Paul and his intended journeys. Paul always sought God’s will for his life and travels. However, God didn’t always allow Paul to reach all his proposed destinations. Regardless, Paul trusted in God’s sovereignty.
Our spiritual walk with God frequently parallels my real-life situation. The clock, calendar, and needs of others often dictate our lives. Life doesn’t always work out as we script it. Scripture instructs us to plan, but it also tells us to seek God’s will for our lives in the process.
Make a point to regularly seek God’s wisdom and desire for your life through daily prayer and Scripture reading.
Barbara Owen is a writer.