The Pathway

Ps 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. …with your right hand you save me.

Ps 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and staff they comfort me.

Is 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; for I AM the Lord your God and Savior.

When I read these verses in order I thought, “Ok, He will be there when I am in trouble,” Gee that’s nice. But wait, He will preserve my life? How often do I really wonder about that! Often actually. Preservation is a bit more than walking with me in times of trouble.

He will also walk through the valley of the shadow of death with me. Shadows are dark; valley’s can darker. Especially when it is a spiritual valley, those can be really dark and lonely. (Those spiritual valleys can really take their toll on me!) Both shadows and valley’s can be unnerving to say the least. But then, toss that DEATH word in there. YIKES. Even as believer that can leave a bad taste in our mouths. But as a follower of Christ, I am not alone in this life regardless of how dark each day seems to be. He is the light in my darkness. He is the arrows of direction on my pathway of each day. He is the hope that drowns out all “what ifs” in my day. The shadow of the valley holds nothing against me! I can gain comfort through each dark moment because I know that HE is there with me!

As I read through the verses on Isaiah I can see Him even more clearly. We always hear that “God has a plan for your life.” Yep that makes yesterday make more sense, and it gives us hope for tomorrow. Just yesterday it hit me, well duh. If His plan is good for yesterday and tomorrow, then TODAY I must be living in His plan as well. That realization takes the “ouch” out of the day for me. Getting back to Isaiah, God talks about “WHEN YOU”…; so He does know about my today! As I thought about this a little longer and listened to the Holy Spirit I could sense Him saying, “Your journey will lead you on pathways you wouldn’t have chosen for yourself. BUT you must walk through where this path leads IF you trust in me and follow me. I know where this pathway ends.”

This pathway may be scary. This pathway may be dark and full of evil on both sides. But none the less, I will walk it today and every day by choice because I know that I am not alone.