Lost

We were staying in an enormous campground near Lake Huron.

It had over 250 RV spots, 125 cabins and tent spaces clustered throughout, a pizza restaurant, snack and ice cream shops, and several laundries.

And it was packed that weekend.

In fact, we decided not to leave on a Saturday excursion because the people-watching was just too good to miss!

On our first day, I needed to get some change for the laundry and headed in the general direction of the office, which I couldn’t actually see. And so I took a turn and then another and then another.

Eventually, I was utterly lost.

I decided to head back to the RV to regain my bearings - only to realize that I couldn’t find our RV section either.

I finally called Steven in desperation: “Get out the map! I have no idea where I am!”

I’ll admit that I am profoundly direction-challenged; my family can attest to this. I can get turned around pretty quickly - which my internal-compass husband finds very funny.

But in my defense, the very next day a bewildered young woman walked by our site and exclaimed in frustration, “Do you have a map? I’ve been lost for the last half hour!”

I could relate…

Maybe, right now, we all feel a bit lost.

As I talk to people, the overwhelming sense is this: life seems particularly difficult in these uneasy days.

Where do we turn?

God’s Word gives us a roadmap for this challenging time. In fact, the difficulties today are not so unlike the difficulties 100 or even 1000 years ago. Conflict, discord, injustice, hostility and indifference have been around . . . forever.

And God longs to speak to us about these things.

Turn my eyes from worthless things…

Psalm 119:37

Wisdom is our most precious asset. There are many worthless ways we can handle the perplexities of our world, and God does give us the freedom to choose. But we can also choose His way using the precepts He’s given.

Here are a few:

For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
    

I am not guilty of turning from my God.

All his laws are before me;
   

 I have not turned away from his decrees.

Psalm 18:21-22 NIV

“Blessed are the peacemakers,
    

for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:9 NIV

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:43-45 CSB

Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.

Galatians 6:9 CSB

“The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 23:11-12 CSB

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Philippians 1:20-21 NLT

I long to find the path of peace. I long to mindfully maneuver through the difficulties of my life.

I long to give up trying to devise my own rules.

The Lord has given us His guidance through the mountains and valleys of these unsettling days. But it’s up to us to follow through.

Here’s the best news I know for today: We don’t have to feel lost.

Meditate on His Word and find direction for your day.

Today is a GOOD day!

Natalie