lead me

When I applied for the Thailand mission trip, I wrote that one of my reasons for going was to gain some clarity for my future. And when I was first asked whether or not God gave it to me, I replied, "No, not really. I think I'm even more confused now." In retrospect, it was a very foolish expectation in the first place. It's not often that God tells individuals what they are to do several years down the road. But upon further reflection of this past summer, I see that in a sense God has given me the clarity that I was seeking. He hasn't given me a vision for what I'm going to be doing and where I'm going to be X number of years from  now, but he's made it rather clear what he requires of me. It's quite simple. So simple that a church-raised 5-year-old probably could have told you. That is, to walk daily with him.

Those seven weeks in Thailand, God made it abundantly clear that there is always a plan-- his plan. More importantly, it was never necessary for me to know the plan. For the first few weeks at least, I didn't know what would happen the next day 90% of the time. But I felt this inexplicable peace because I knew God was in control and that his plan is good, pleasing, and perfect. We don't always have to know where we're going or what we're doing, so long as we know that God goes before us and is with us. We have only to walk step-by-step with our Lord, trusting with childlike faith that he leads us on the path to life and will never leave us.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humble with your God?