There is a path near my home that has hills, valleys, some flat spots, and lots and lots of curves. This makes for a challenging run or bike ride because you never know for sure what is around the bend.
This last weekend while bike riding (still grappling with those gear shifts but am determined to not give up. For more on that devotional click here), I found myself wishing I had the path memorized so I would know whether to start peddling faster for an upcoming hill or to start slowing down for a steep incline. It would be so helpful to be prepared, to know what is coming next, and to have a feeling of control. I wouldn’t have to worry or have anxiety because I would be assured of what is around the bend and even how I should react to it.
And as much as I might like to have more control over my bike rides, the same view is often applied to my life as well. Seems like life would be much more manageable if we knew what next year, next week, or even tomorrow might hold for us. This “unknowing” state can cause us to have anxiety and worry about the future whether it relates to situations, relationships, our kids, or our health. The list really could go on and on. If we just knew ahead of time what was around the corner, we could get prepared.
This is where trust comes in. Trust in Christ’s wisdom, His grace, and His sovereignty. Trust that the Lord will be with us for whatever is around the bend. Trust that regardless of the hills or the steep inclines, His love for us will never change. Trust that He will direct our paths when we are obedient to His direction.
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As followers of Christ, we are not promised an easy path. In fact, scripture tells us that we can expect trials and tribulations. But regardless of each days ups and downs, our trust and focus should remain in Christ. But sometimes this is just plain hard.
Jesus’ disciple Peter showed great trust when he walked on water. He walked out of the boat and toward Jesus. His focus was squarely on Christ. And then the waves came crashing around him, his focus shifted with the heavy wind, he felt out of control, and Peter began to sink. You can read this passage for yourself by clicking here.
When life is going along and the path is smooth, it seems easier to place our trust in Christ. It is a pleasure to worship and pray. Keeping a focus on Christ is just more simple during these times. But when the waves come in, we somehow take our focus off Christ, perhaps we even begin to doubt his love, we feel a complete loss of control, and then, just like Peter, we begin to sink.
Thankfully, although we cannot see around the bends of life, we have a loving Heavenly Father who understands what the future holds. When we spend time with Him each day in prayer and Bible study, He will strengthen our faith and better prepare us for those tricky turns. When Peter began to sink, Jesus stretched out his hand and steadied him. He will do the same for us.
My prayer is that we quit worrying about what is around the bend, that we give up the need for control, and place our trust and our focus squarely on Christ. While we are at it, we probably should let him take over the handlebars, too!
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