WALK GOD’S WAY

“Your ears shall hear a WORD behind you, saying, “THIS IS THE WAY, WALK IN IT” – Isaiah 30:21a

Last month, we began to meditate on God’s Ways. This month, we shall WALK GOD’S WAY: “Your ears shall hear a WORD behind you, saying, “THIS IS THE WAY, WALK IN IT,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isa.30:21). Earlier in the chapter, God had rebuked His people for their rebelliousness (vv.1-7). Then, He counselled them to trust His strength instead of their own ways: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (v. 15). He promised to show His grace and compassion: “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him” (v. 18). Weeping and affliction cease as discernment and instruction come (vv.19-20).

At certain junctions on Life’s Journey, we’re faced with choices and decisions to make or steps to take. Should we say ‘Yes’ to an opportunity that looks great but could end in pain? How do we decipher between the ruminations of the mind and inspiration from the heart? Moreover, there are crossroads where choices are clear, but direction is not. Which way do we go? When we find ourselves at the crossroads of choices and decisions, the first place to turn is God's Word. So many of the questions we ask are answered in the Word if we are willing to hear the wisdom of Scriptures.

God’s Way is in His Word! Jesus is the Living Word (Jh.1:14). And He says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jh.8:12). Walking without God is an unnecessary struggle, like trying to figure things out in the dark. God’s Word is the lamp to our feet and light to our path (Psa.119:105). God will show us the Way, but without Him, we’ll have to find our way through the darkness. Why struggle, when we can have God to guide us?

Some people suggest that we should simply follow our heart, and it will never steer us wrong, but the Bible says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jer.17: 9-10). The heart can be deceitful. It can tell us things we want to hear instead of the truth we need to hear. It can convince us that what we want is the right way, even if that way is not God's Way. It’s so much better to follow God’s Way than walk without Him because He makes things possible and He is our ever-present comfort and help (Psa.46:1).

God never said that life here on earth would be easy. We’ll go through tough times, but our time here can be worth it. Walking God’s Way may not make things easy but it makes them possible. We have the assurance of His Presence, His Comfort, and His Power in our lives, and are able to endure and overcome trials: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psa.23:4).