‘I will go before you
And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.– Isaiah 45:2
Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve had to remind yourself, God goes before me?
Where you’ve had to surrender in the midst of confusion?
Where you’ve had to just trust that God will never leave you or forsake you?
That was me when my mother passed away. I felt like I’d lost my anchor in this world and my desire to live. I was ready to go. I remember sitting so still, listening for the sound of chariots from heaven to swoop down and whisk me away.
But God had another plan. And as the months progressed I could see that not only did He go before me and make the crooked paths straight, He’d gone months behind me to ensure that all that I would need to walk through that darkness would be in place. One of those pieces came in the way of a friend who was visiting. A friend who needed a visa in order to be there that particular day. And if you’ve had any experience with getting a visa to travel to a foreign country, it’s oftentimes a complicated process, with no guarantees that immigration officers will approve. But it worked out seamlessly this time.
As I look back I see the hand of God so clearly. Had that visa not come through, had that flight not been booked, had my friend missed that flight, I would have been all alone. And to be honest, I may not have made it.
But. Because I’ve made it, there’s one thing that I know for sure. As long as I have breath in my lungs, I know that it’s God’s will for me to live. Abundantly. (John 10:10)
The same is true for you too. Whatever you’ve gone through, or whatever you’re trying to get through right now, know for absolute sure, that it’s God’s will for you to live, and to live well.
So this year, on hard days, trust Him
On confusing days, trust Him
Through the agony, trust Him.
And as you place one foot in front of the other, may this be your confession:
He goes before me
He makes the crooked places straight
He breaks in pieces the gates of bronze
And cuts the bars of iron
He will give me the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places
That I may know that He, the Lord
Who has called me by my name
Am the God of Israel.
Amen.
