Pastoral Pearls: Difficult Roads
This photo looks rather familiar. Quite frustrating actually, if I do say so myself. It makes me uncomfortable when I can’t see where I’m going. Whoa… I sure hope that doesn’t mean that I am uncomfortable with “mystery,” or what does that say about my faith in God? I usually feel like I want to “lean into” mystery – it’s exciting, an adventure, eventually a surprise at the end. But this is the kind of haze that keeps me in the “uncomfortable dark.” It’s like white-knuckle driving. I can’t see what’s in store for me.
This quote, though, puts my thoughts into perspective. I am re-energized when I think that the best is yet to come! Then I can get into the beauty of the journey, one step, one mile at a time. What’s around the bend? That is what always pulls me forward on any of my adventurous explorations.
What happens when I can only see what’s right in front of my nose? It forces me to be mindful, to pay attention, to see what I CAN see, to move with wonder and awe towards something God has planned for me, but hasn’t revealed to me yet. The best is yet to come. That is my motivation. There is beauty just beyond this troublesome time. Good to remember. It may be a bit scary, but I CAN move forward, little by little, as God reveals only my next step. Hmmm, just the other day someone was reminding me that I seem to want to know the whole picture all at once rather than just the next best step. That often derails me, because I can become overwhelmed with the “too much” of the big picture and miss the “next best step” God is trying to show me.
I guess this is God’s way of encouraging me to follow HIS lead, and not get ahead of myself by biting off too much. Why just this morning I had another reminder (thankfully with only minor repercussions) of what happens when my mind gets too far ahead – my feet can’t keep up and so I tumble down the stairs! So, really, for me, much of those “difficult roads” the quote speaks of are really of my own making – when I do not follow the road God is revealing to me in small, bite-sized pieces things can get rough! I need to take a step back from what my mind is telling me and listen for what my heart is telling me – that still, small voice of God within me.
Loving God, please put some holy blinders on me for a bit, while I get used to letting you guide me with just my next best step.
Keep me from rushing off headlong into my perceived “big picture” and missing the benefit of the “now” and my “next best step” only.
May I value the lessons within my difficult times and remember to focus only on Jesus as he guides me toward my “best that’s yet to come.”
~ Amen