Originally published December 5, 2011
Thick fog. Driving this morning in the fog made me realize that is where I am at in many areas of my life. In some areas God has shown me what He wants the outcome to be but the path He is going to use to bring me to that place is foggy. Other instances I do not know the outcome and instead He wants me to be obedient one step at a time, only revealing my next step. In either instance it is all about His leading and my following.
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16
This is not by any means easy. At times I don’t want to wait to be guided and instead try to go ahead according to my timing. He is always faithful to put up a wall in that instance and remind me that it is according to His perfect timing, not my far from perfect, selfish timing. Or in the instance of not knowing the outcome, therefore not having the option of trying to go ahead or push forward, it is maybe even harder not to know anything and just take one step at a time in obedience. I tend to believe, knowing my fear-filled tendencies, that when He is only revealing one step at a time it is because if He revealed the outcome I would run in the opposite direction. Or, at the very least, waste precious time dragging my feet in fear. He knows me better than I know myself; so even if I don’t know the exact reasoning why He doesn’t reveal it to me, I know there is in fact a reason.
“for we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
Walking in faith, in obedience, amongst the fog also requires steadfast prayer, another possible reason for having me in the fog. If I am not praying and seeking Him then it becomes very easy to go off His path. The enemy will try to lure me off the path whether through fear or through deception.
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.” Proverbs 27:6-7
Chances are the enemy will try to deceive me that I am staying on God’s path but really have been lured off of it. Remaining steadfast in prayer, seeking God and being satisfied in Christ is the only way to try to thwart the enemy’s attempts. He will try, but if my heart is centered on Christ, my satisfaction is in Him, and through prayer I am listening to His direction then the enemy will be easier to identify and through God’s strength can be resisted.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23
So I will continue to obediently follow through the fog, as I view life through faith and not my eyes. He is always faithful, always good, always in control. I just need to set my eyes on Him and follow. I am the sheep, He is the shepherd.