“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understand; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV).
I tend to be decisive when ordering at a restaurant, but I always seem to have the most indecisive friends. I have developed the habit of helping my “indecisive” friends work through all the options on the menu so they can find what most appeals to them – I know, it’s a weird skill set to have. But we are faced with so many decisions and options in life. Whether it’s our careers, relationships, friendships, what we study, where we live, or what we eat today, we are confronted with a maze of big and small decisions. This can cause us great anxiety and stress. But Jesus tells us to come to Him with our weariness and burdens because He promises to give us rest (Matt 11:28-30).
Having a faithful and trustworthy Shepherd to guide us through the big and small things in life makes an enormous difference in how we face challenges. Jesus tells us He is our good shepherd in John chapter 10, where He also tells us that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). Based on this verse, I once heard a speaker brilliantly point out that both God and the enemy work in similar but opposite ways. One way ultimately leads to death, but there are bursts of life and pleasure along the way to bait us further along. The other one leads ultimately to life, but there are little deaths along the way, painful self-denials and things we need to give up in order to keep progressing down the path of life. Pursuing God does require carrying our cross to follow after Jesus in the ways of life more abundant. It isn’t easy to choose the more difficult path. And practising self-denial feels very counterintuitive. But as Simon Peter puts it, when Jesus asks His disciples if they will walk away from Him: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” (John 6:68). Despite the hardships, who else could possibly provide true life? When we place our complete trust in Him, although the circumstances may not look smooth or ideal, we can know that He is our Good Shepherd who leads us down the right paths.
As we pursue Him down this challenging path, Jesus promises us life more abundant. In fact, we’re called to be flowing rivers of living water. Typically, bodies of water that bring life constantly flow and pour outward; they are not stagnant pools hoarding the water in itself. As we submit to God and allow Him to lead and guide us, He deals with the blockages to allow the water to flow freely and generously. He also works all things – big and small – for our good and His goodness to be revealed.
Heavenly Father, thank You for lovingly and patiently leading us down the right paths and for bringing life more abundant our way. God, as we navigate the tricky waters in our lives, may You remind us of Your goodness. May You help us trust You in all things and to not be afraid of the hardships along the way. We thank You for Your goodness revealed in every area of our lives as we pursue after You wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
