Unfamiliar Paths

EARLY THIS MORNING, the weather app on my phone showed snow falling and cited “snow and drizzle.” Sure enough, I lifted my bedroom shade to see flakes drifting from grey skies. I would need to do my prayer walk indoors. However, the weather changed quickly, and a few minutes later, I noted my sidewalk was almost dry and the skies clear.

With my ferocious Havanese pup in tow, I headed out on a three-mile walk (Havanese and ferocious shouldn’t occupy the same sentence since this breed loves people). At any rate, we both felt happy and exhilarated to be out in the crisp outdoors. My street sits on a hill, so along the way, I stopped to catch my breath, take in the valley view, and rejoice in the sunshine.

We reached the top and followed the sidewalk to the end of the housing division, where I usually turn around to return home. However, today, I decided to leave the familiar ho-hum safety and predictability of the sidewalk. Instead, I ventured past it along the country road. Houses tucked on acreages remained partially visible among the hills.

I felt wary walking this stretch of road because who knows what creepy people might come by and even stop? That happened to me before when a carload of migrant workers slowly trailed me along rural fields. Another time, a pack of six barking German Shepherd-type dogs came at me on a country road.

Regardless, I felt calm and adventuresome today, thoroughly enjoying the extra excursion, as did my pup, who went crazy over all the new scents. We saw deer tracks, but I think deer bed down at noon. I hoped to see something extraordinary to make my blog interesting.

However, I had time to think, which carried me to the unfamiliar paths I’ve traveled, especially over the last two years. I’m learning to pump gas and not take out the nozzle too soon, never leave keys in a vehicle with auto-lock since locksmiths charge $90, and trust Google Maps and Siri on my phone. I’m finding unfamiliar places for doctor and dentist appointments through traffic. I’m also learning about plumbing, disposing of dead rodents, and the flooding effects of ice dams on my roof. I now do my banking and bills and discern junk mail (almost everything). All these were unfamiliar paths, but God continues to walk with me through every circumstance.

My choice to take an unfamiliar path on the country road today reminded me to thank God for His grace in bringing me so far. Today, I’m stronger and more courageous than I was, which is good. More changes will come, but with each one, I know God will take care of me and never leave or forsake me.

Recently my daughter learned of a retirement village where she thought I might want to move. My heart desired to relieve her and her husband from their responsibility for my home maintenance which I can’t always manage. So I asked her to put me on the waiting list for the retirement village ($1000 non-refundable).

Then I reconsidered. I would have to sell my already paid-for home and dispose of 90% of my familiar, earthly possessions. I would only get back 65% of the purchase price if I ever wanted to sell, plus I would have to pay a hefty monthly sum for all the amenities. All so overwhelming! When my daughter later told me there was no pressure and I did not have to move, I felt a huge burden fall away, replaced by joy.

We are going through Pricilla Shirer’s “Discerning The Voice of God” in my ladies’ Bible study. When the Holy Spirit within us, the Scriptures, our Supplications, Sage advice, and Sircumstances come together with one voice, we can rest assured of God’s direction (Okay, the creative alliteration was mine).

His peace directed me to remain on the familiar path, confirming it with overwhelming relief and joy. Yet, I must stay open to changes that He ensures with the same list: His divine Spirit, the Holy Scriptures, prayer, wise counsel, and open doors through which He will strengthen me to walk.

After my recent scam debacle, I learned Isaiah 18:16-17 which says, “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.” I painfully learned that some foes are too strong for me, but Psalm 37:39-40 says, “He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.”

I take refuge in Him, and He strengthens me to overcome because I’m more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ. By taking refuge in Him on familiar, unfamiliar, or unknown paths, the Lord walks with me. Today, I felt exhilarated, courageous, and triumphant because I overcame another fear.

When God asks us to travel an unknown and possibly dangerous path, He also tells us to “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him” (Ps 37:7). He says, “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” He also tells us to “Lay aside every weight and the sin that so easy ensnares us (my snare is doubt). Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus” (Heb 12:1).

One Scripture to which I cling says, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands” (Isa 43 18-19). Old history never changes. It feels safe even though painful. The future is unpredictable and feels scary, especially when we allow speculations to take over our minds.

God tells us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11). If we put our trust in Him and do good, we will dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. If we delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts (see Ps 37:3-4). So I pray, that out of His glorious riches, He strengthens us with power through His Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith” (see Eph 3:16-17).

THIS PAINTING developed slowly. Instead of using a photograph or familiar landscape for inspiration, I started from scratch. Well, almost. I had started a painting of dark green fir boughs contrasted with spring green leaves, but I never finished it. So, to illustrate this blog, I chose to transform it into a path through the woods. I prayed for a burst of inspiration, which never came. Slowly, the foreground formed, and a background sky peeked through, but the center stage remained empty and void.

Finally, it dawned on me that was precisely my current life season. I’m standing in a shadowed foreground. A blue sky of God’s trustworthiness peeks through, but I have no idea what He will do with the middle ground ahead. It stares at me in a fog bank of invisible promises of a future and a hope, all yet unrealized and unimaginable.

None of us know what tomorrow may bring: sickness or health, better or worse, richer or poorer. Yet, God calls us to trust Him with all the unknowns and strength to bear them. He says to run with perseverance the race He has set before us. Then Hebrews tells us Christ ran that race for the joy set before Him. So no matter what happens, we have the joy of a glorious eternal future with Christ and the present joy of His presence with us. Then He also tells us His grace is sufficient for us in the middle, in the meantime. And until then, we have His strength to go on singing, until then, with joy to carry on. Until the day our eyes behold the city, until the day He calls us home.

God’s final surprise to me in this painting was to see a sunset bathing the fog in a pink glow. There is always hope ahead of us in God’s faithfulness.

May the peace of Christ rule my heart and yours today and into the unknown days ahead.