Getting my feet wet.

God’s paths aren’t always crystal clear. (I think we can all vouch for that.) BUT His paths are always right. 

While in Uganda I went through what I consider one of the most difficult trials of my life. I won’t go into details, but in the process of this trial I lost a dear friend who I considered a sister. I pray someday there will be reconciliation, but for now she refuses so I will let God do that work... However, this trial had me on my face begging God to show me the next step. I was lost. I felt completely abandoned. And though I love Uganda, it didn’t help that I was 8,000 miles from home. I didn’t have my girlfriends to cheer me up. I couldn’t get a hug from my mom or a big bowl of gumbo to warm my soul from my dad. It was literally just me and God.

In my devotions this morning I read about Joshua leading the Israelites across the Jordan River. After Moses died, Joshua took over in leading the Israelites into the Promise Land. Most of us know the story of Moses parting the Red Sea to flee from Pharaoh. Well, time came again and it was now Joshua’s turn to lead his people through a large body of water. Only this time it was a bit different...

Joshua instructed the priests to carry the ark of he covenant into the water and for the Israelites to follow behind. No staff was struck into the river with giant walls of water like we see in the movies with Moses. THEY HAD TO GET THEIR FEET WET. They had to walk straight into the fast flowing river if they wanted God to do His work. It was only then that the waters parted and a strip of dry land stretched miraculously from one side of the river to the other.

When I went through my own trial, I wanted to go home. I saw a giant raging river in front of me and I was terrified. We read multiple times in scripture how the Israelites contemplated turning back so many times, even though turning back meant a life of hardship and slavery. They were afraid, they felt abandoned by God, and they were tired. That’s how I felt and I was ready to go back to the comfortable and familiar. I pleaded with God to show me my next step, but He didn’t. Instead, I had to step out into the unknown, into the raging waters. I put full trust in Him that I wouldn’t get swept away in life’s river. 

The first few steps were scary and I feared the current of life would sweep my feet right out from under me. But the exact opposite happened. God created dry ground for me to walk on, just as he did for the priests carrying the ark of the covenant. I may only see the path one step at a time, but He is still guiding me, as long as I am obedient and trust Him. 

I’m so glad I didn’t let discouragement and hurt get the best of me during my time of pain. Stepping out into the whirling waters has been the best experience of my entire life and I know it is what God had planned all along. I still stub my toe every once in awhile when I’m not fixed on His path and there are still days I wonder what would happen if I turned around and ran the opposite direction. But I know His plans for my destiny are even greater than my past. And I know that He will always guide me as long as I put complete trust in Him... as long as I’m willing to occasionally get my feet wet.