In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6
He leadeth me. Psalm 23:2
In "pastures green"? Not always; sometimes He
Who knoweth best, in kindness leadeth me
In weary ways, where heavy shadows be.
Who knoweth best, in kindness leadeth me
In weary ways, where heavy shadows be.
So, whether on the hill-tops high and fair
I dwell, or in the sunless valleys, where
The shadows lie, what matter? He is there.
I dwell, or in the sunless valleys, where
The shadows lie, what matter? He is there.
Henry Barry (1840-1875)
"He will make your paths straight." "He leadeth me." Until I read Henry Barry's short poem, I had always interpreted verses such as today's selections from Proverbs and Psalm as sunny, happy verses. Obey God, he will lead. Makes sense. He will lead us to good places. Still waters. Green grasses. Financial security. Etc.
But nowhere does it say that God's leading will always be down a sunny path. There are paths that run beside raging waters. A trail can run along the edge of a deadly precipice. The Bible assures that God will not tempt us, but there are no promises that His leading will be down a sun-dappled lane with a light breeze and 30% relative humidity.
What is promised are three things. First, if we acknowledge and submit to Him, He will lead us. Second, if He leads us, it is the best path. Third, no matter the path, sun-dappled or heavily shadowed, He is with us.
But nowhere does it say that God's leading will always be down a sunny path. There are paths that run beside raging waters. A trail can run along the edge of a deadly precipice. The Bible assures that God will not tempt us, but there are no promises that His leading will be down a sun-dappled lane with a light breeze and 30% relative humidity.
What is promised are three things. First, if we acknowledge and submit to Him, He will lead us. Second, if He leads us, it is the best path. Third, no matter the path, sun-dappled or heavily shadowed, He is with us.
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