Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

This week I had the opportunity to getaway again for a few days into the mountains with my wife, Missy. Our friends have a ministry connection to a house near Idaho Springs that we have had the pleasure of staying at a handful of times since it was built to get away and relax. You really cannot beat the view from the back porch of this mountain house. It actually surprised us the first night we were there when we realized that the lights glowing in the distance were actually the city of Denver seventy miles away! 

You could say that the location is definitely off the beaten path. Dirt and gravel roads splitting off and continuing to wind uphill all the while dictating that first time guests need clear directions in hand before embarking on this trek into the evergreens. You even travel past an active gold mine on the way with tourists panning in the stream or paying to go underground for a tour. Now, we have been there enough times that I know where to go and which way to turn, but I was reminded on this trip how complicated it was the first time. 

I have found that many seasons of life feel like this. Trying new things or embarking on challenging moments often come with the potential for  real anxiety and trepidation. If only we had clear directions to navigate those big decisions! As much as our own experiences help to form us into who we are, they often don’t help us feel confident making choices we’ve never been faced with before. So where do we turn in those moments? What voice of wisdom do we choose to listen to? 

In this proverb written by the wise, King Solomon, scripture tells us where to put our trust…and the need to do it wholeheartedly. It is in those moments that we must choose to intently listen and follow His direction for us. “Your paths”. A life uniquely fashioned for you to travel, but it can’t be fully realized while we depend on our own past experiences and limited present perspectives. It’s ultimately an act of self-surrender, but the Lord knows where the destination is we need to arrive at. A turn here. A few miles that way. A little patience. A lot of trust and obedience.

Leaning on the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 “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.” We’re going somewhere great! Keeping trusting.