Who Is Your Guide through the Journey of Life?

March 06, 2023

By Brooke Holt

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” Genesis 12:1-4

How do you respond to major life changes? My family has moved two times in the past six years. We left our home of sixteen years in Lake Mary, FL for Houston. It felt exciting and yet terrifying. How would Floridians do in Texas? What would this new calling look like for us? How would our children adjust, especially since one was entering her junior year of high school and later one would move for his senior year of high school? How would our family make the transitions and embrace the new call God put on us in each place?

Our family has certainly not been the only ones called to leave our homes. Thousands of years ago, the Lord came to Abram and called him to leave his home, all that he had known, and all the security he may have enjoyed upon the earth. Abram was to go to the land which the Lord would show him -- no map, no well-defined plan, no security except for the security that he was doing what God told him to do. Despite the ambiguity, the text tells us that Abram obeyed the Lord in leaving his homeland and headed towards the unknown (note that Abram had his name changed to Abraham – see Genesis 17:5).

Abraham’s journey was not perfect, and we can assume it probably did not go as he expected. (Who could imagine having a child at the age of 100?) However, God was faithful each step of the way and did accomplish his plans and purposes through an imperfect man. The nation of Israel was born through Abraham (and Sarah), and God’s blessings abounded in their lives as evidenced by the son of their old age, Isaac.

How do you respond to the direction of the Lord? Are you one to lay out all your concerns and questions and use them as an excuse not to obey the Lord? Or do you follow the example of Abraham, and follow the Lord’s guidance even when you don’t know the way?

Just as it was true for Abraham, God will be with you providing what you need in this journey of life, showing you the way, and fulfilling his plans in you and through you. Your call is simply to believe him and to follow.

Father, we pray that you would give us the faith of Abraham to go where you send us, to do what you have called us to do so that you may be seen and glorified in our lives.

Reflection:

The season of Lent offers an ideal time to assess whose will you are following – the Lord, yourself, or another person. Are there ways the Lord would like to redirect you today? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resource:

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