By Tanya Jolliffe RDN, LD, CMHIMP
I found out how terrifying it can be to be lost when I was a school aged girl. While attending a family reunion, my younger brother and I set out to “catch up” with family members that had headed into the woods for a short hike before lunch. We had done what we thought was the right thing to do before going with them on the hike. We didn’t want to “wander off,” so we ran and asked our parents if it was ok to go on the hike. After receiving permission, we headed back to the trailhead where several of our uncles and cousins had started out. They’re certainly only a short way ahead, we thought. We heard voices, certainly that was them. As we walked further and further down the trail into the woods and the voices got fainter and fainter, we realized we were lost. “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways” (Proverbs 4:26 NIV).
My younger brother was looking to me to find our way to the group. I tried to provide reassurances that we weren’t far away, but inside I was terrified. Instead of turning around, we continued to follow the path even crossing a road since the path continued on the other side. Without anyone to guide us, we used poor judgement that took us further and further away from where we were trying to go. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22 NIV).
When our uncles and cousins returned without us, our father set out to find us. Just as panic was about to overtake me, I heard his distinctive whistle in the distance. We had wandered very far away, and it took a lot of whistles from him and shouts from us to find one another. “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it'” (Isaiah 30:21 NIV).
I can still remember the look of relief on his face as we ran into his arms. As you can imagine, that look changed once he knew we were safe. The stern glare that followed didn’t matter because of the feeling of love and relief that filled me while holding his strong hand as we walked back to the punishment I knew was ahead. “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me — a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8 NIV).
Sometimes we can feel lost as we navigate the decisions of life. The panic of physically being lost can become just as real as we long to be found and directed to our destination. Luckily, we have a heavenly father waiting to take our hand and guide us if we let him. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8 NIV). We do have to be careful that we aren’t listening to all the voices around us that could take us further off course. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8 NIV).
Whether walking in the woods or walking through life, having a guide along the way will keep us from getting off course and becoming lost. When we are found in the Lord, we have someone with whom to stay connected. As we listen to our internal guide, the Holy Spirit, we are able to stay on course toward our purpose according to the plans of the Lord. “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalm 143:10 NIV).
Have you been found in the Lord? If so, are you connected and listening to your guide? If you would like help connecting with your internal guide, consider partnering with a mentor that can help through the Reaching New Heights Mentoring Program. If you have not been found in the Lord, would you like to be? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV). “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NIV). “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV). “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NIV). If you would like someone to talk and pray with as you make this important decision, I would be honored to be that person. Send me an email at Tanya@LivinginTruthMinistries.com, and let’s connect.
While it can seem easy to become lost as you travel, you can stay on course when you are relying on the right guide. Make today the day you decide to be found and take a step forward in your journey.
