This morning I was running an errand and I was pleading out loud to God, “God show us your way, your path through this difficult time.” My mind immediately went to Psalms 25: 4. David cried out to God the same prayer. I do not know what David was going through when he penned these words, but it was not a calm, peaceful day. His enemies had galvanized an army to find and kill him. He was afraid and desperately needed to feel God’s presence, protection, and truth. He needed a way, a path through the mess that was totally engulfing him.
Psalms 25:4-6
(A Psalm of David)
Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they are from old.
When we face difficult times or tough situations, we feel like we are “between a rock and a hard place”, squished between two boulders that you can not wiggle your way out of. The only way to look is up because in that situation you cannot see your feet! David looked up and pleaded with God to show him, teach him God’s path forward. He knew there was a way, a path forward, and he wanted to be led in truth, a truth that saw the broader picture, a truth that was beyond the muddled, jumbled mess in his brain. Sometimes paths meander through flowers and meadows with a cascading stream and mountain top views. But often it is through rough terrain with rocks, mud, briars, and danger lurking on all sides. Sometimes it seems impossible to move forward. The path is there, even when we can’t see it or it is too difficult to walk.
I enjoy reading books about the adventures of people who hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. The 2,190-mile trail is a hand-hewn, well-worn path through the forest, across meadows, rivers, and up and down the mountain ranges. Even though the trail is marked with white blazes, hikers tell of crossing a meadow and not being able to find the continuing trail or suddenly not knowing where the trail you were on just disappeared to. They tell of being stopped in their tracks because a rattlesnake is relaxing and enjoying his day curled up on the trail or a black mama bear with cubs steps out of the dense forage. Their heart pounds when the path is a narrow ledge on the side of a cliff or there are only rocks to jump crossing a stream or river. They are constantly on guard against creepy crawly things, roots and rocks. To see the beautiful wild flowers, colorful birds and sweet berries growing in the wild you have to look beyond your feet. They have to be ever vigilant, brave, strong, and preserve with their eye on the finish line.
And so, it is with life. Our eye must be on the goal, the finish line, but in the meantime we navigate the path.
David had an personal relationship with God; you are my God, and I am going to sit before you and wait. He reminded God of his mercies and loving kindnesses from times past. When we remember the past, we can see from a different perspective the faithfulness of an ever-present, ever-faithful God who knows the way. When we come to God and lift our heart pleas to him, confirm our trust, He will show us the way and in the rough times, we will see the flowers and eat sweet berries.
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