Lost and Found

by Freida Harrison

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105 (NIV84)

Recently I had the exhilarating experience of traveling to another city with my dear friend, Rachel, to attend the Women of Joy conference. Rain was in the forecast and dark clouds were forming, therefore, the logical choice was to drive from our hotel rather than walk. As predicted, the clouds opened up and rain was swirling in the streets before we reached the coliseum.

Once inside the building, we found great seats, and soon the activities began. Uplifting music encouraged us and a fantastic lesson on grace was presented. After the inspiring session was over, rain and darkness greeted us as we stepped out into the night and jumped in the car. Rachel drove into the wet streets, heading to the hotel a few blocks away.

But suddenly, our surroundings looked strange. We thought we had taken the correct path and could see the landmarks that had been noted before, but the environment didn’t match our memory of the practice route that had been driven earlier. We made a quick decision to take one turn to the right in an attempt to retrace our drive and see what was wrong. Our laughter took on a more serious tone when the reality hit…we had lost our way.

This same turn of events can occur in our walk as Christians. Even though we study God’s word, pray, and listen to God’s call in our lives, one small turn from that path can turn our lives upside down. It sometimes happens so quickly that we have no idea what took place. All we know is that our lives are not what we had planned and worked toward, and the familiar path is out of sight. Those little turns can land us in the wrong place feeling lost, frightened, and alone.

But we are not alone. God is with us, and he has given us the Bible to show us the right pathway. Our steps can be retraced to discover where the wrong turn occurred and we’ll be able to get back on the road that God has prepared for us — the road that leads to our heavenly home, our ultimate destination.

Rachel and I made it back to the hotel safely and realized that when we made the turn, we were only about ten yards from the hotel parking lot — a mere ten yards! Had we stayed on the original path, our journey would have been very short and the stress, confusion, and fear that we felt during our wandering moments would have been avoided.

May we fix our eyes on Jesus and never wander from the path that leads to him.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the tools we needed to direct us to our destination, but more than that, thank you for giving us the Bible to guide us to the most important destination of all — our home in heaven with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.
Proverbs 16:17 (NIV84)

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25: 4-5 (NIV84)

…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NIV84)

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV84)

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