Sometimes our lives take unexpected turns. We might visualize the path that we would like to take in life, but things don’t always turn out the way we planned. We might have negative experiences that take us down a road that we didn’t want to go down. And there are also times when the wrong turns in life were our own doing. Either way, life can leave us feeling disoriented. We think we are moving along on a solid path when suddenly we have taken a detour. Some might even wonder why they bother making plans or setting goals. Instead they allow life to pull them along in a strong current.

Some of life’s twists and turns are out of our control, while others are the result of our own mistakes. But we don’t have to be at the mercy of whatever life will throw at us next. We don’t have to feel as though we are being tossed around in an unforgiving ocean. Instead we can learn to cling to God, and know that He is directing our steps. It starts by making our relationship with the Lord our number one priority, and giving Him our whole heart. Seek the Lord above all else. Take time to sit in His presence, get to know Him, communicate with Him, and listen to Him.

David knew what it was like to wander through life with God by his side. David grew up tending sheep. It might sound like an easy job, but he had to protect the sheep from wild animals. David faced a giant and defeated him, against all odds. One day David was told he would become king. But it didn’t happen right away. In the meantime, the current king tried to kill David, and David had to run for his life. Finally David did become king. But things in his life still went up and down. His own son tried to take over the throne, and once again David had to run for his life. David wasn’t perfect. He made a few mistakes along the way. However, God confronted him when he sinned and led him back to the right path. That is when David wrote Psalm 51, asking God to create in him a clean heart. God restored David’s soul, and led him back to the path of righteousness. Through all of life’s twists and turns, David knew his life was steady and in the Lord’s hands. That’s how he was able to write so many beautiful Psalms with such confidence.

When we learn to align our steps with God’s, life will no longer seem to be dragging us along. Instead, we will take each step with certainty that God is with us. We will not fear what lies ahead when we have an Almighty God beside us. We will be amazed at the way He restores the soul. And we will see with awe how He leads us down the path of righteousness. We could never do this on our own. We need a loving Shepherd to lead the way. We have to learn to fix our eyes on Him, every day. And He will gently guide us along life’s paths.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. – Psalm 23:3

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas