The Compass

The Compass – Prov. 3:5-6

Such familiar verses to many people. Proverbs 3:5-6 are easy to take for granted. How do we trust in the Lord with all our heart? It has to do with complete submission to Him.

When we hold back anything, or any area of our lives because we find it hard, uncomfortable, distasteful, frightening or just not as pleasant as a different route we want to take, we are not trusting the Lord. That means when we do the choosing about the path we take, even good paths, rather than consulting and obeying God we are not trusting. We are leaning on our own understanding because we just know that we have it figured out or perhaps there is an easier path. We may be distracted along the way and not even realize we are doing this. We can be busy enjoying many good things and not realize it until we suddenly feel like something is just not quite right.

It was this way for me literally as I walked through the beautiful fall foliage of the Ozarks atop a mountain trail called the Glade Top Trail. I was so enamored by the lovely scenery, and the company of my husband that I did not even realize we were off the trail until it was too late. It was already getting late in the day and there had been not even one other individual around. We could not call anyone because we not only had no cell phone signal, the phone battery was about to die. We knew better! We had hiked many times and we knew we should have been better prepared but nothing like this was supposed to happen. We were already about seven miles out by our estimation and it was getting colder by the minute.

As my heart began to sink I started to humbly pray for help from God. I acknowledged my great need of Him and knew that He alone was the sovereign One who could hear me and help. As I walked a few steps further I noticed an object sticking up out of the dirt and motioned my husband to come and see. I was almost frightened as I dug it out of the ground because it was a small object that reminded me of a grenade! You cannot even imagine my joy and complete amazement as I realized God had literally given us a compass!

I had been trying to lean on my own understanding and ended up helpless and hopeless but in HIS goodness when I called out He provided and literally made our path straight. We ended up walking another seven and a half miles but it was in the right direction.

Life is so much like this hiking trip! It seems so easy to figure out where you are going on your own until you look up and realize you have left God out of the plan, sometimes on purpose and sometimes because you were so distracted. Remember when he gently tugged at your heart to serve Him some way and you circumvented the call to do another ministry or service that did not require quite as much? Remember when he beckoned you to spend time with Him before making the important decision about the relationship you find yourself in and now know deep down it is not of God? Remember how you started out walking with Him in your business but it just became all-consuming and now the little compromises are impacting not only your life but others? Go back, find the compass He’s providing, make sure you are in line with His Word and Ways, and trust Him. Take the first steps of obedience and then watch how He marks the trail.

The Compass

Climbing up the mountain the path narrows to rocks and uncertain ground;

Unaware of where I am heading because I am too busy looking around.

Enjoyment of the beauty of mountain views so high has suddenly faded into doubt and fear.

How could I breathe so deeply one moment then lose my breath as I find no one is near?

Realization sets in that I am so far away and now I may never be found.

As I say a prayer and cry out to God, I notice something laying in a dirt mound.

Only heavenly eyes could help me see the object hidden in grass and leaves.

The direction of God has provided again the compass, as my life in His hands he weaves.

Hiking through life is much the same way, it is easy to gaze all around,

And sometimes you find your eyes are off the Lord and you know how you need to be found.

Yet humbly calling and depending on Him will take you the direction you need.

His Word is your compass, His hand is your guide, you just have to submit and let Him lead!

Proverbs 3:5-6