The Brave Path
You’ll get no arguments from me. I’m not an adventurous person. I was not raised in a home that traveled to obscure campsites, seaside, mountainsides, or any other sides. The biggest adventure I can remember that came from my childhood was when we as a young family packed ourselves into a 1961 Chevrolet and headed west to San Diego, California from Waukegan, Illinois. Ah, that’s not altogether true. But close. When we traveled, we knew where we were going. At least that was the way it was for me, as a kid. I’m sure if you interviewed my parents, you would have a different story. That said, don’t think I haven’t had my adventures. I surely have.
But the greatest adventures I have ever had in my life have come from walking with an unseen God to do unseen things in unseen places. Most likely the same things my folks would say. California trip included. Boy, that’s another world altogether. And that truly is an adventure because it all happens by faith. No one can advise you with those things – this is something that only you and the Lord come up with on your own. And that takes courage in trusting what He says and what you are willing to believe. It’s a brave path.
Curiously enough, for me, that path seems to get narrower the older I get. It costs more to trust in Him to do the things He says He will do and I’m not altogether sure why that is the case because as I stand where I am and look back I’d be a fool to overlook the blatantly obvious fact that He’s never failed me yet. He’s never, not shown up, even when I wasn’t expecting Him to. And yet sometimes I still wonder if where I am is where He is expecting me to be. Ugh. Living by faith isn’t easy. At all.
I’ll not go into the details of my own examples because really, who cares. You have your own. But what I will do is point us all in the direction of a passage that I have found in the beautiful book of Psalms. Oh, boy – read this beauty of a passage.
“This God – His way is ‘perfect’ the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?- 32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. 33 (Okay friends – pay attention to this….) He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.”
Oh, all of this……….. so good. But then – here is the greatest gift. Verse 36, “You gave a wide place for my steps under me and my feet did not slip.” Psalm 18:30-36
I think I had read and re-read this several times before I understood the significance of it. Where it is placed in this passage is not unseen to me. He takes us to a narrow path in a high and uncomfortable place and yet when we are with Him the pathway is wide and there is absolutely no way that our feet will slip off the ledge. No way.
There’s a journey that must take place for the person of faith. It takes them from things and places that they know and understand, to things and places that they don’t know or understand. Faith. That’s it. It’s the place of the invisible world; unseen God, unseen places.
So, I guess the question is then, how do we increase our ability to take those steps with confidence? I only know of one way – time with Jesus. There He is writing every Word in the text of your Bible. There He is in every private moment of your thoughts. Go ahead – go back to when you were a little kid. Do you see yourself there? No one else may see you laying in that bed or crouching down in that corner of the box or cave. He was there. How about on the best day of your life? Yep. He was there. Worst day? Yep. He was there. Were you the little boy on the bottom bunk in that bedroom packed with kids? Yep. He was there. I was the little girl stroking short brown hair wishing it was long. He was there and knew my thoughts.
Yesterday I stood in front of the bathroom mirror staring into the eyes of a 68-year-old woman and it crumbled me to realize – time means nothing to Jesus. He was watching me as a little girl. Now I’m not and yet – He’s still there. Loving me.
So, I stop today and I think about the things that I believe He’s called me to do for Him. He’s never failed me and so why should I fail Him? No. I cannot. Does that path seem narrow that He’s called me to travel? Yep. Super narrow. Will He fail me? Nope. He promised. “You gave a wide place for my steps under me and my feet did not slip.” I’ll go. I’ll take the brave path.
I’m asking. Will you? Will you go there? If not. Why not? He’s given so much for you. And what in return will you give for Him? That’s the big question. Isn’t it, my fellow brother and sister?
