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I enjoy looking at maps. Not only are they helpful tools to navigate unfamiliar territory, they also provide a unique “big-picture” view from an omniscient vantage point. Do you ever wish there was a map available to show where your life was going? I do. Will my life be like traveling on a curvy road on the edge of a high mountain with no guardrail? Will it be like cruising a straight highway through the plains of Iowa? Will it be a scenic route? Will I ever run into a dead end?
The future is unknown to us. Tomorrow your life might change drastically by the sudden loss of a loved one. Another terrorist attack may wreak international havoc. You might lose your job. Nevertheless, one way to prepare for the uncertain future is to reflect on God’s faithfulness in the past. Christians have the advantage here because the God of all creation has promised that He will never leave us on our own (Gen. 15, 17). Consider the people of Israel, who were rescued from slavery in Egypt, brought through the Red Sea, and led to the Promised Land. Surely they needed to hear some words of comfort during their travels! As a result, Moses, inspired by the Holy Spirit, penned the first five books of the Bible, reminding the people where they came from, who God is, and where they were headed.
The Psalms are also a great resource for finding comfort. Many center around the practice of remembering God’s past deliverance, and, like a springboard, they give us a boost of confidence and peace to face future trails. God is actively involved in every detail of our lives. He is on our side, our strong refuge in the midst of strife (Ps. 124:1–3, 8).
The King over all creation may be taking you on a journey through the wilderness right now. When life is uncomfortable and nerve-racking, remember His faithfulness. Moses and the writers of the Psalms understood this. They also knew that God’s thoughts and ways are often very different from their own (Isa. 55:8). Despite this, they kept the faith, finished the race, and received the crown. As strangers and exiles on this earth, let us take comfort in and be thankful for God’s Word and Spirit that guide us and strengthen our faith for the journey. Although we don’t have an actual map for our lives, we do have an omniscient God who has given us a lamp; let us therefore use it diligently to light our path.