Faith for the Road Ahead
Well, merciful heavens, friend, come on up on this ol’ front porch and rest your weary feet for a lil’ ol’ spell. I’m mighty tickled that you stopped by here today. So, pull up that ol’ rocker on the corner over yonder that creaks louder than an ol’ bullfrog that got stepped on, and let’s git ourselves settled in real good. I’ve done been thinkin’ this morning about how trustin’ God with our future can feel about as tricky as tryin’ to convince a stubborn lil’ ol’ goat that plum refuses to leave out of your vegetable garden. Yet here we are, our hearts wide open, and ready for the Lord to be speakin’ a real fresh word.
Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit thy way unto the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” That verse sets the whole tone today. It’s like the Lord whisperin’, “Friend, hand Me the reins. I know where we are goin’.” And, mercy me, do we ever need that kind of reminder. We get ourselves twisted up like a squirrel that tried to outrun an ol’ hound dog, thinkin’ we can control every detail of tomorrow. But the Lord keeps right on nudgin’ us toward trust, not turmoil.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future.” That there ain’t just a pretty verse to stitch on a pillow. It’s a real promise carved down way deep into the heart of God. And when fear starts to nibblin’ at us like a lil’ ol’ raccoon that found the chicken feed, He gives us another truth to stand on. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” When we hand Him our plans, He steadies our minds. He hushes the noise. He settles the dust.
Sometimes trust feels mighty impossible. We say we trust Him, but our hearts flutter around like a nervous lil’ ol’ quail. Yet the Lord knows our weakness. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” He gives strength when ours runs out. He gives peace when our thoughts scatter. He gives faith when our knees wobble.
Father, thank You for knowin’ our tomorrows better than we ever could. Thank You for steadyin’ our hearts when fear tries to take over. Help us trust You with our future, our plans, our worries, and our hopes. Give us the faith we cannot muster on our own. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Well,friend, I reckon it’s about time for you to git to wanderin’ on back into the rest of your day carryin’ this truth like a good ol’ sturdy walkin’ stick that won’t snap when life gets bumpy. May your steps feel lighter than a lil’ ol’ fawn skippin’ through a meadow. May your worries fall off you like acorns shaken loose by a good autumn breeze. And may your heart stay tuned to the gentle voice of the Lord, remindin’ you that He’s already walked ahead of you. Head on out there now, friend, and enjoy what the Lord’s already set in motion for you.
With joy,
Gwen
