Crossroads

                                                                     

“Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16

As you are walking through the woods, you encounter a crossroad. Imagine standing and looking at two or three paths that are diverting from the one you are on.  Which one should you take? Which one is good?  Which one is dangerous? Which one is best?

Life is full of crossroads.  As long as we live, there will be options to continue on a path or to take a different one. These decisions may be major or minor.  How do we decide?

The Scripture in Jeremiah gives us some steps to take.  The first step is to “stand” and “see." Stop pause, look at the options.  Hastily rushing down a path without evaluating all possibilities is not wise. Stop and look. How long this step takes depends on the complexity of the decision.  The Bible often tells us to “wait”.  We must be willing to wait as long as necessary.

The next step is to “ask”.  The verse tells us to ask for the old paths, to ask where the good way is. God never changes. His ways may appear “old” or outdated, but His ways are always best. Ask God for wisdom to discern “where the good way is”. Our minds are finite. Only God is able to see the end from the beginning. Only God knows which path is best. Ask Him.

Then, when God has made it clear which path is the best one, we are to “walk in it.”  Sometimes if the path appears challenging, we are tempted to continue to “stand and look”.   But when God directs us, it is time to put one foot in front of the other and to start walking.

What will happen when we do that? “Then you will find rest for your souls.”  Our world is full of people with restless souls.  Deep soul rest only comes to those who stand, look, ask, then start walking down the path with their God. May each of us know true soul rest as we walk through life.