Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

You’re probably familiar with the poem “Footsteps in the Sand”. An individual is looking back at his path along the beach of life. He sees two sets of footprints, side by side, except when things were difficult. During hard times, the person noticed only one set of tracks. “Lord, when life was hard, why did you leave me?” “I didn’t”, Jesus responded. “Those are my footsteps. I was carrying you.”

When I look back, I see something a bit different. Before my footsteps disappear, there is a parallel set of deep ruts dug into the sand. This is where Jesus was dragging me along because I kust wouldn’t listen to Him.

More than once, I’ve had to stop and ask myself, once and for all – what’s it going to be?

Am I going to fully trust the Lord with all of my heart, or am I going to continue leaning on my limited, imperfect perceptions?

Am I going to let my Sovereign God run my life, or am I going to continue to foolishly advise Him on what I would do in my situations?

Am I going to be humble and quiet my mighty ego, or am I going to keep trying to do everything my way?

Am I going to put my full faith and trust in my Heavenly Father, or keep wringing my hands in anxiety, worry and fear?

Am I going to relinquish the idea that I have control over my life and recognize God is GOD, or keep frustrating myself with the troubles and trainwrecks self-reliance brings?

Am I ready to – once and for all – cast my cares upon Him, trust Him with all my heart, and realize God knows what’s going on, knows what I need, knows how to see me through any and all circumstances, or keep being stubborn?

If I stop and think about it logically, trusting God is the only choice that makes sense. God is sovereign, I am not. God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, I am not. God is love, I am not. God is truth, I am not.

God is God.

I am not.

And, for that, I’m thankful.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. God is our Father, our Abba. He is our Savior. He is ever-present and loves us beyond comprehension. Rest in Him.