Getting Lost
Years ago, I was following Maps to take my little boys to their Oma and Oma’s house in Ocala, Florida. Map Apps were relatively new at the time, and not as accurate in delivering you to the right destination.
As we turned down another more rural road, my gut told me Siri was leading me astray. My headlights penetrated thick darkness, and nothing felt familiar, but since I’d gone this far, I continued to follow Siri’s instructions.
Suddenly, “You have reached your destination,” Siri said.
My headlights shined on a landfill.
My faith in technology lead us to a huge trash pile.
“Momma, I don’t think this is Oma’s house,” My eldest Nick said from the backseat.
“Are we lost?” My middle Christian asked.
Obviously!Â
Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)
The Roads that Lead to Trash Piles
How often do we follow roads that lead to trash piles?
While the enemy provides the wide, smooth pavements that hold promise. We convince ourselves, this is what the Father wants for us. Why wouldn’t He want to bless us?
We ignore the warning signs along the way. The path becomes darker as we’re required to compromise our values a little at a time. There’s that nudging feeling, this is not right or I’m not in the right place, but we push it down and continue on. Until we’ve gone so far from the ancient path, we don’t know how to return. Time’s been wasted therefore, we feel obligated to see this through.
We’ve followed the wrong person to hitch our future’s on.
We’ve chased dreams hatched in the nest of pride rather than inspired by God.
We’ve fed our pleasures with parties, entertainments, and addictions.
Until one day we crash into a garbage dump and find ourselves carrying our stilettos on a walk of shame.
Truth? Â It’s never too late to turn back towards the light.
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Psalms 139 8b-12 (ESV)
Light Trumps Darkness
Did you know that light the size of the point of a needle can be seen by our eyes in darkness?
Light pierces darkness.
Yet, no amount of darkness can survive in light.
A Trustworthy Guide
I’ll admit that night in Ocala when my lights shined on a trash pile, I panicked a bit, but the tiniest voice in the backseat reminded me of something.
“Momma, we should ask God to help us find our way,” Colin said.
So, we did.
I backed out of the landfill, turned my SUV towards civilization by looking for lights in the sky. Fifteen minutes later, we pulled into their grandparents driveway where a hot meal awaited us.
The Ultimate Decision
As we face a culture more intent on placing road blocks in front of the narrow paths, while building highways to destruction, we must use discernment in who we are listening to. We must ask ourselves, does this align with the truth of God’s Word?
Praying for discernment and the guidance offered in His Word are essential to navigate a life of purpose, power, freedom, and faith.
Will we be willing to take the narrow road that leads to place at His table? Or is the ease of the wide path leading to stinky mess more appealing?
We must decide.
Photo Credit: Credit:hobo_018 Istock
Note: Due to time restraints, this article appears unedited by our in-house editor Barby Molnar.
Tammy Carter Adams is the founder of The Hallelujah House and co-host of The Hallelujah House podcast. She lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband and four children ages 24 to 8. When she’s not creating content, Tammy loves to get away from the hustle and bustle to her farmhouse in the sticks of Georgia.
