Simple Path

I walk down the path , minding my own business.  Things seem to be going just fine.  The path is well lit and easy to walk upon.  The bushes are lovely, the butterflies flit in and out between their blossoms.  The thorns that were always present seem to have disappeared.

  The sunshine is glimmering on the stone path.  The little squirrels twirl and whirl right in front of my feet.  What a joy the journey along the path is today!

Wait a minute.  This path is becoming a bit bumpy.  Ouch!  That stone punctured my foot.  Whoa.  I cannot see like I could a few minutes  ago! No, I am not leaving this path or asking for any help.  Those thorns weren’t there a minute ago either!

Those little squirrels suddenly have a look of evil in their eyes.  I am lost!  I cannot see where I am going.  I don’t care how many other paths there are to take that won’t hurt.  I am going this way…wait a minute, what happened to the joyful journey?

 I cannot do this.  Why did I begin to travel this way?  Don’t I know better?  Why do I always make these stupid mistakes?  What can I do now?  I am so stupid, I am so scared.  I am so ashamed.

Where did that shame come from?  Why do I feel so guilty for walking down this path?  Why am I condemning myself for walking down a simple path?  Pride has kept me from taking another path.  Why am I so scared of squirrels all of the sudden?

Does this sound like a journey we call life?  We can be walking down a path and all the circumstances on that path can change so suddenly.  We can make a mistake, we can be pierced by the thorns, hurt by a stone. But it always come, at one time or another.

Romans 8:1  “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”  Proverbs 16:18  “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”  1 John 4:18 ” “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

So we beat ourselves up.  We make mistakes, we take the wrong paths…circumstances of life change.  We do too little, or not enough.  We need to learn how to get up off the path, dust out feet, conquer our fear, deal with the consequences and maybe even take the other path.  The enemy has us right where he wants us when we mess up and sat down, beat up and scared on that path.

Hebrews 13:5-6  ” Never will I leave nor forsake you, so we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?'”

Stay on that path today.  If those squirrels become mean, the stones become sharp…stay the course, or even change to another path!  Either way, HE will stay with you, right by your side!

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*