Sometimes we all need a little help finding our way.
I was five years old and it was the first day of kindergarten. All dressed up in my brand new “back to school” outfit, my mom made sure I was in the correct line before she headed back to her car where she watched from a distance to make sure I made it safely into my classroom. The parents weren’t supposed to stand with their children (which didn’t make sense to me then, and makes even less sense to me now). At any rate, as our line began to move, the other class lines did, too. Since five and six year olds are notorious for their inability to walk in a straight single file line, our class got intertwined with the other classes near us. Soon I found myself in a sea of unfamiliar faces, unsure of where exactly I was supposed to go and just as confused about how to get there.
My five year old heart nearly beat out of my chest. Staying put seemed like a sure-fire way to get run over by the moving mass of children also dressed in their back-to-school finery and matching backpacks, so I did the only thing that made sense to me at the time – I ran aimlessly, looking for someone or something recognizable. The problem was, I didn’t know who I was supposed to follow. I had only briefly met my new teacher before I had taken my place in line. I couldn’t remember if she had brown hair or black. Then again, maybe it was blond. I simply didn’t know. Who was I supposed to follow? And where in the world was her room? I felt utterly lost. I squeezed my eyes as hard as I could to stop the floodgate of tears from starting. I wanted to find my way, I simply didn’t know how.
Until.
From out of nowhere it seemed, mom grabbed my sweaty little hand and grasped it in her firm, loving one, steering me in the right direction, helping me find my way. She had seen the whole episode; her eyes had never strayed from watching me.
Even better, she knew the teacher and she knew the way to my final destination. A wave of relief swept over me. Five year olds aren’t meant to find their own way.
Adults aren’t either.
Though our lives are a whole lot more complex, still, we need someone who will lovingly grab our hand and help us find our way – and this is especially true in the realm of our spiritual journey.
Have you ever considered that God wants to take your hand and show you the way?
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24 NLT)
So today if your feeling a little lost, know this: God sees you, even if you don’t see Him. He’s directing you. He knows every single detail of your life. And He’s holding your sweet little sweaty hand.
