You can’t get there from here! God’s Guidance

 

You can’t get there from here

I could see a huge outcropping of rock in the distance that beckoned me as I sat in the opening session at my first silent retreat in a palatial ranch estate in the mountains outside of Denver. But there was a problem, I could not get there from here. My high school geometry teacher taught that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. My college football defensive lineman coach said the same thing, which meant you just go through whatever is in front of you to achieve the objective. Clearly that is not the best advise for navigating the obstacles between us and what God has called us to do.

If I had taken the straight path, I would had gone down a treacherous rocky mountainside, through a thicket, through a dense forest, and gotten knee deep in water, and scaled a 30’ rock face to get there. But the wise, thicket scarred wet to the knees King Solomon said, “with humility comes wisdom.”

My journey to the call began by walking away from the direction of the objective to achieve my ultimate objective, sitting on top those rocks overlooking the valley and the beautiful brook flowing through it. I started away from the direction of the rock and walked down the backside of a mountain to the bottom. I could have sat down and spent my time at a picnic table on the way down, but it didn’t feel right and I would have missed out on the glorious adventure.

At the bottom of the hill, I took a hard turn back toward the rock. Going away I could not see the vision of the rock anymore. All I could see was a path downward away from the goal. I hoped it would open up, but I didn’t know. But at the bottom of the hill it did open up and as I turned back, the vision was before me again. Clearer and closer, and more exciting than in the beginning. As I walked from side to side down a rocky boulder strewn pasture leading to the valley below, I could see it was still further than I anticipated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beautiful babbling creek in the bottom of the valley begging to be fished, but I was heading to the rock, overlooking the valley. There were not cows in the pasture, but there was still the problem of bogs and cow piles. Life can lead us through places where we can trip and fall into a cow pile, or just step into it. Fortunately, this time, my steps were sure, but the brook twisted, curved, and was deeper than I expected. As I wandered around in the pasture following the creek and again I walked away from the vision to get to where I could cross somewhat easily. God had made a path through the water, a solid sandbar of rocks and pebbles that was crossed with just a little hop and a jump.

 

Then there was the climb up the mountain to get to the rock. I always wondered why the patariarch Abraham stopped in Haran and took a looping path to the promised land. He was tired! He had to stop and rest for a while! Sometimes we over spiritualize things and what we need to do is stop and rest for a while. Jesus took Peter, James, and John upon the mountain to pray. I am certain there was no easy path to the top and that they had to stop and rest along the way.

I made it up the mountain to the foot of the rock, but it was 30 feet tall straight up. I was still 30 feet from where I wanted to be, and I was not about to attempt climbing it, so I kept walking up around it, and then I see it.  God had made a stairway so I could step up those 30 feet to where my eyes first fell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Such is the nature of following God’s call upon our lives. It can be more difficult than He wants it to be or it can seem like it will take forever.  But it is just a walk with Him up, down, through, and around obstacles with our Good Shepherd, if we hear his voice and follow him. It is imperative to stay tuned to the Shepherd’s voice.

He is on top of the place where He wants to take you. He can see every step you need to take and save you from lots of painful steps if you will have faith that his steps are the right steps and you stay attuned to his voice.

The path back is going to be much easier. I know where to go. I could bring someone back with me now, much easier and faster if they would listen to me. We need others in our lives who have already been there and done that, and willing to coach us in the steps along the way. See with humility comes wisdom.

Father, you are so good in your ways. You are our good-good Father who has a plan for our life and you want to carry us to places we could never imagine!

How did I know where to begin this journey?

At the ranch, I could not see a path to the rock, the place that beckoned me. All I away was hardship and the prospect of pain looking out through the thicket. But when I drew near to the cross, I began seeing a path. The closer I got to the cross, the more visible I could see the path down the mountain.

The cross is always the beginning point of every journey to where God is calling you. The Good Shepherd knows the way, has gone the way, and wants to show you the way personally.

 

 

Lord, help me to be as gentle and leadable as a sheep. Protect me from my own stubborn streak and the inner desire to follow my own ways. Thank you for leading, guiding, directing, and protecting in the calling upon each of us. Lead me in the path to the place you would have me to be.

Knowing Christ means knowing the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd who leads you and guides you along life’s journeys.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.