Last Updated on October 21, 2020 by Stacy Averette
We love to go camping and ride four-wheelers. Our family has a special place we meet and ride the trails that wind for miles through hundreds of acres of forests. Once in while a driver will fall behind, miss a turn, and get separated from the group. This happened to my daughter and me several years ago. We were unable to find the others so I decided to turn back and go to our camp site.
Do You Know the Way?
I wasn’t entirely sure which way to go but I knew I would eventually see a familiar trail and find our way back. My daughter wasn’t so sure. After I turned around several times she began asking, “Mommy, do you know the way?” I assured her I did but she wasn’t convinced. She continued to ask and became worried and tearful. I assured her that I knew the way. Soon our camp site was in view.
Many years have passed since that incident. God has brought it to mind several times to teach me an important truth.
Life is full of twists and turns and unfamiliar territory.
Our children are full of questions about life.
Some are spoken during dinner or road trips or school work. They’re communicated through nervous laughter and wondering expressions. Sometimes they don’t know what to ask and we breathe relief because we don’t have all the answers.
I realize that I am on an unfamiliar trail. I’m at a place in life I’ve never been before—parenting these children at every age—and this time I’m entirely sure I don’t know the way.
Thankfully, I know The One who does. I am reminded of Joshua 3:2-4:
After three days the officers went through the camp, commanding the people: When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being borne by the Levitical priests, set out from where you are and follow it. Yet a space must be kept between you and it, about 2,000 cubits by measure; come not near it, that you may [be able to see the ark and] know the way you must go, for you have not passed this way before.“(AMP)
The ark of the covenant was a visible sign and token of the presence of God himself. Today, through Christ, we have the Holy Spirit as a seal and a pledge of God’s saving work and access with boldness to the presence of God.
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. 2 Corinthians 1:21
He is our Teacher and our Guide when we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26
While we are in this life we must expect and prepare for unusual events, to pass ways that we have not passed before.
But if we have the assurance of God’s presence, we need not fear; that will furnish us with such strength as we never had when we come to do a work we never did. Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
Jesus is the way.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
These days I am keeping my eyes on The One who is the way and knows the way. I am following Him. I can confidently navigate life according to His plan and teach my children to do the same.
Do you know The Way?
Are you faithfully communicating with your life—what you do and say—that you know The Way?
Here’s one of my all-time favorite parenting books: Parenting by The Book: Biblical Wisdom for Raising Your Child by John Rosemond.