By: Ginger Hughes
This afternoon, I took the kids to the local walking park to walk and ride bikes. It was starting to get cooler and the wind was picking up, so we decided to stay on the side of the path that gets the most sunshine.
We walked along, my daughter skipping, my son riding his bike through the puddles from the recent rains. It came time to go home, and we turned around to make our way back to the car when the sun nearly blinded us. It was getting low on the horizon and the rays were shimmering off of the puddles creating a white light so bright it was difficult to see.
I squinted at first, trying to adjust my eyes, but that did nothing to alleviate the harsh rays. I put on my sunglasses which was also of minimal help. Finally, I raised my arm and lowered my head, shielding my eyes from the brunt of the sun, and we continued forward.
My kiddos were struggling too. My little guy tucked his head down, looking toward the ground and rode ahead slowly, trusting me to tell him if something or someone was in his path up ahead.
“Mama, I can’t see at all,” my little girl said, “I’m going to have to walk right behind you and follow in your footsteps,” as she squinted also raising her hands in front of her face, trying to shield her eyes from the sun.
I walked ahead, leading the way, and she followed along closely behind, but the lesson in this image wasn’t lost on me.
There have been many times in life when I couldn’t see the way ahead. I tried hard. I did everything in my power to discern the way forward. I thought through my current circumstances and carefully considered upcoming decisions. At times, I made lists of pros and cons, certain that logic would lead me the right way. Sometimes, I asked for others’ opinions, carefully considering their thoughts and suggestions. But still, I couldn’t see far enough ahead to know which direction I should take.
I often stumbled forward, walking aimlessly, until I was willing to say those very similar words to God, that my daughter said to me. “Father, I can’t see. I’m just going to have walk right behind you and follow in your footsteps.” Though I didn’t know the way, God knew. But until I was willing to surrender my will to His, the way forward was shrouded in mystery. It was only in surrender that my way became clearer, and my stumbling gait was remade into purposeful strides.
Friends, if you are blinded by the brokenness of the world, unsure of what the future holds, or trying desperately to decide which path to take, I hope you’ll humble yourself, and let a child’s words become your own prayer: “Father, I can’t see the road ahead. I don’t know which way to go. But I trust you to lead me. I surrender my will to yours. And I’m just going to walk right behind you and follow in your footsteps all the way home.”
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.”
Proverbs 3:5:6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”
-Ginger Hughes is the wife of a pastor, a mother of two and an accountant. She is a Georgia native currently living in the foothills of North Carolina. Her passion for writing is fueled by the desire to offer encouragement, grace and a deeper understanding that we are all God’s children. Her blogging for Nurturing Faith is sponsored by a gift from First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Ga. Additional writings may be found at nomamasperfect.com.
