A Guide with a Guarantee!

Look at the above picture.
Notice how wide and smooth the trail is through the woods.
Now, the trails I hike on are not quite this easy. Not in the Adirondacks or Acadia National Park anyways! They are usually narrower and more "rugged". Not so easy looking.

This picture reminds me of most of our days.....we walk along our journey really not needing much guidance by the time we get to our 30's and 40's.......and now that I am approaching age 50, it is even more evident to me that overall, my life has not been one in which I've had to "stumble" along. Maybe it is the mercy and blessing of God. I usually like to attribute it to that. Not much tragedy or painful circumstances, overall, have entered my life. The walk through college, graduate school, teaching, marriage, childbirth, parenting, and ministry has been fairly straightforward. I've needed guidance from the Lord and have asked for godly counsel from leadership in churches, etc. But...for the most part, once I was married and "doing life" at age 30, it was fairly easy. I knew where I was going, with whom, and what we had to do.

However......now look at the picture below.

Do you see that the "trail" is not clear? Can you tell there even IS a trail?
Notice the yellow trail marker with the red x on the tree. This is your sign that you are on the trail. This is more like what I and my family experience when hiking.
We need the guidance of that marker!! My oldest daughter, from the time she was 3, was taught to be our guide. She would lead the way, looking for those markers with the rule of "our eyes always need to be able to see you". This is still our rule no matter with whom we are hiking! And we had the guarantee that eventually we would get to our destination whether it be a mountain summit (my favorite!) or the trails end in a deep part of the woods. All we had to do is follow that guide...those markers. We sometimes would have to look carefully, and look ahead.

This trail is more like life when things are confusing or unsettled or when situations arise that might challenge us emotionally, physically, or spiritually, isn't it?
I haven't had alot of those times....but I sure have had some! I have needed guidance and direction. I needed a guarantee that all would be well. That life would return to a smooth walk. Is there such a guide?

YES....we have a Guide!
Jesus can guide us along the way......all we need to do is turn to Him for direction.
Sometimes we hear clearly. If we are listening.
Sometimes, even when we are listening, it is hard to hear Him.
He might be saying "wait".
Or He might not be giving us the answer we are hoping, praying, longing for.
But...He is still our guide!

And He has a guarantee of peace......the peace that passes all our human understanding!!

"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

He will give peace when we seek Him.

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4

We have the guarantee that He will answer us......He longs to guide us......

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

and I love this Scripture: "....when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.....and He will tell you things to come." John 16: 13

and of course, my very favorite verses in the Bible:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (the word "direct" here often translates to "make smooth" or "straight").Proverbs 3: 5&6

Is He your guide today??

Let Him guide.... and.... you are guaranteed peace.