Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
 
Jesus said to Peter, "Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go."  John 21:18
 
God has given each of us free will to do and say whatever we want to do and say. However, along with that free will God has also given us instructions in the Bible as to what he knows as the ways best ways for us to us to use our free will as we travel  through our lives. When we turn to our own devices and do not follow God's plan, we tend to weigh ourselves down with doubt, worry, self-criticism, blaming, and a host of other negative thoughts and actions that lead to nothing good.
 
Our God is infinitely patient. He can out-wait any of our attempts to self-navigate our lives. When we are ready to turn to him and ask for his support and guidance, God is waiting with open arms. He takes us into those loving arms to rescue us from our own devices. This gives us the will and the strength to listen to God and follow the plan he has for us. He leads us in ways that we may never have considered, but trusting in God shows us that his grace is sufficient even in the most challenging of circumstances. We do not know what lies ahead, but God is there to make straight our paths.
 
Dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
You who know our fears and sadness, grace us with your peace and gladness;
Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts.
 
In the pain and joy beholding how your grace is still unfolding,
give us all your vision, God of love.
 
You who know each thought and feeling, teach us all our way of healing;
Spirit of compassion, fill our heart.
 
Healer of our every ill, light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear, and hope beyond our sorrow.*
 
In your name we pray, Amen.
 
*Healer of Our Every Ill," Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymn 612 verses 1,2,4, and Refrain
 
Florence Smallfield 
Ministries
Teaching Mission Party