Devotions with Pastor Michael

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. —Psalm 119:105

When I am making decisions about the future, I really wish God would make it easier for me by giving me all the information I need. Sometimes I wish I had a better glimpse of the future. And since God already knows the future, why won’t he share more of it with me? It makes you wonder why God would hold out on us like that.

Could it be that God is holding out, or does he have something else in mind? It’s times like this that I’m reminded of this verse in Psalm 119.

When we seek God in Scripture, God will often prompt us on what to do next—particularly the next step. God offers a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Interestingly, that helps for a few steps, but no more.

Most of the time we want more and more of the details. We want to know everything we can about the future. I suppose we assume that it may offer us a sense of security about what is to come. However, it would probably be more than we bargained for. God knows that we wouldn’t deal well with some of the details if we could see them coming. For example, if God had shown me what I’ve had to endure in being a pastor, I’m not sure I would have said yes to his call almost two decades ago. If God had shown me everything I’d have to do to earn a doctorate, I’m not sure I would have started down that path.

What I need to understand—perhaps more now than ever—is that God’s grace is always sufficient for today. Or, maybe even for the moment.

If you ever find yourself wanting more details, remember God will show you all you need to make a decision that honors him. He illuminates our paths for two or three steps, but he likely will not show us steps four, five, or six. Instead, we walk by faith, one step at a time.

-Pastor Michael