Not Leaning on our own Understanding

Paths are interesting. I mean, it's a good thing we have them or a lot of us would get lost quite often. Some paths are easier than others. Shenandoah National Park has many paths that are quite rocky. Many times you really need to keep your eyes on the path directly in front of you, in order to avoid tripping. So many times you finally lift your eyes only to see a whole lot of up in the trail, and that's never fun, I don't care who you are.

I know for me, I oftentimes get caught up in the big picture, the down the road aspects of where I'm going with things. But when I do, it's so easy to see my inadequate nature. It's easy to stumble over the details in those moments. Instead of just seeing the next step, I see the uphill section, and get discouraged.

But God has given us His Word to guide us, a map so to speak. But as much as I wish He'd give me the whole plan in advance, in His wisdom He doesn't. Sometimes He reveals the very next step, other times we must walk in faith. All of it while being in submission to His revealed will.

When we look at our circumstances from our eyes, we are tempted to trust in ourselves and our own abilities. Just like looking at the difficulty of a trail can cause our spirits to drop, or lifting our eyes, thinking "we got this", can tend to a sudden toe injury (ask me how I know!); oftentimes recognizing our weakness and inability discourages us, and falling into pride lines us up for a fall.

Instead may we in His grace trust in God's leading, stepping in faith one moment at a time.