I don’t know about you guys, but I have no idea what’s happening right now. Better yet, I have no idea what’s going to happen in the next days, weeks, or months. I’d say I am a pretty “go with the flow” person but this sheer lack of direction has left me longing for a clear sign of what’s to come.
Two summers ago, two friends and I walked the Camino de Santiago through Portugal and into Spain. The Camino is a network of pilgrims’ ways leading to a town called Santiago de Compostela, where it’s said Saint James is buried. Each day, we didn’t know how long our journey would last, didn’t know our route, and we didn’t have a clue how we’d arrive at our next destination. Why? Because our only guide was a path outlined with shells or yellow painted arrows. If we weren’t paying full attention to them, we’d miss a crucial step and completely alter our journey! We needed to pay careful attention and trust that these arrows were taking us the right way – even if the way they were pointing us seemed completely illogical.
Right now, God is reminding me of this journey. He’s reminding me that although the yellow arrows that I’m following seem to be taking me on a scary and strange path, that I need to trust that He’s the one leading and He’s going the right way! On the Camino, there were things to see, lessons to learn, and trust to be built that I would never have acquired had I hopped in my car and taken the highway. In the same way, following God’s path step by step provides us with opportunities to grow deeper with Him. It reminds us of the reality that God is our provider, comforter, and guardian IN EVERY MOMENT.
I believe we’ve felt a false sense of security in our lives because of our ability to plan and schedule our lives. But, how in control are we really? Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” However much I wanted to ditch the trail and take an Uber to avoid the confusion of my time on the Camino, I am grateful how it now helps me to understand the meaning of my struggles.
As we continue to live life in the midst of unknowns, let us take heart in the reality that God absolutely knows what He is doing. Nothing is beyond His control. We can rest in the knowledge that His plan is for our good. Again, we may not understand it today, tomorrow, maybe not even in the next year, but He will use this season in our sanctification. I have no idea what’s going on right now, but I thank Jesus that He does.