Growing up in Minnesota’s Red River Valley means that you lived in a beautiful, very, very flat section of God’s country. You can look in any direction for miles and see only land. Flat land. Flat fields. With trees surrounding the farmhouses and fields.
Knowing how to find someone’s farm simply required you to know how many gravel roads to pass by, which mailboxes to notice, how long the gravel road was, and what the formation of the trees surrounding the farmhouse looked like.
That was all fine and dandy when I was driving to my friend Julie Ann’s house in the daylight. I knew the roads, the mailboxes, and the shape of the trees. If I got lost, I’d just drive around until I saw a familiar farmyard and figure out where to go.
But when I tried to find it in the dark? Ooftah. Of course, I couldn’t see any of those landmarks when it was pitch black outside and the clouds were covering the stars and the moon. Driving around looking for mailboxes wasn’t going to work.
This feeling of being lost creates a feeling of adventure in some. Or that’s what I’ve heard. It sure doesn’t work that way for me. Not knowing where I am and where I need to go creates a knot in my stomach and my shoulders hunch up almost over the tops of my ears.
Maybe you’re feeling a little lost these days? Relationships shift as we get older, parents age, and kids grow up. Or perhaps you’re seeing changes in your health or finances. Current events alone can discombobulate anyone! Maybe you’re in a new season for positive reasons, but you can’t seem to settle into it.
We’re looking for those markers that can give us a sense of direction, but the clouds keep us from seeing the gravel roads, mailboxes, or groves of trees.
So maybe we need to just idle. Stop moving. Ask for directions.
If you’re just wishing that mailbox or big red barn would show up and give you a sign that tells you where to go and what to do next, but it’s too dark to see them, just stop. Ask for help.
Psalm 25:4-5 are my go-to words whether I need to make a big life decision or figure out the day’s priorities. My suggestion? Read these next few words as a prayer.
“Show me your ways [the right path], O Lord,
teach me your paths [point out the road for me to follow];
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior [the God who saves me],
And my hope is in you all day long.”
God has great plans for us. He’s promised that. And He keeps his promises. So, we can trust that He knows what’s going on and what comes next. Ask Him to show you the next gravel road. Ask Him to light up the sky with the stars that He has named. Ask Him to calm your rapidly-beating heart and give you peace.
There’s something beautiful about a country road at night, when everything is quiet, and the farmhouse lights sparkle in the dark.
You and I can find that same beauty as we idle for a while.
Stop the fretful moving.
Ask for directions.
