Forging the Path (by Cathe Laurie)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV).

Several years ago, I was stuck in the wilderness of Alaska.

Okay. . . not really, but I very well could have been!

Just picture: Alaskan wilderness—steep, uneven tracks with deep, muddy ruts. Our whole family. ATVs. And little old me, in the back of the pack, completely terrified of every bump and corner! I was nervous, unsure, and practically shaking the whole time!

At the end of the first day, my son—Jonathan—gave me the best advice. He said, “Mom, you were in the back of the pack, behind novice riders like yourself. This time, get in front of everyone else and stay right behind the chief guide, Matt. Put your wheels in his tracks and do what he does.”

Matt—at 70 years young—was a superb leader. He cleared paths through the trees ahead of us, was prepared for any surprise animal guests, and knew the land like the back of his hand. With his guidance, I rode with confidence into the wilderness and got to see the most beautiful sights!

It took just one foot at a time, one small bit of the path at a time, trusting Matt to lead us forward.

Following God’s Path with Uncertainty

When we start following the path God has for us, it’s easy to feel scared, lost, and out of our element. We don’t know what lies ahead, and sometimes the road feels bumpy and rocky. When Greg and I first stepped into ministry, we had no idea what we were doing! But we knew God was calling us forward.

We might look at the long stretch—the miles before us—and wonder, “How on earth am I supposed to get there? How could I ever span that distance?”

It may be tempting to watch how others who have gone before us have lived their lives, and try to follow in their steps, tracing their every move and trying to mimic what they’ve done.

The problem is that just like my family on ATVs, we’re all novices! No matter how long we’ve lived on this earth, we are all human. We are all learning and taking things one step at a time.

Mentors are great and wonderful and can help encourage us along the way, but there is only one leader to follow. Just as Matt forged the way for us through the Alaskan wilderness, so the Lord forges our way in life.

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed,” (Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV).

All it takes is one foot at a time, one bit of distance at a time. If we keep our eyes on the Lord and Him alone, He is making our path straight, and He will get you to your destination!

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.