Whether it’s getting turned around on a road trip or getting disoriented on a hike—no one likes feeling lost and no one likes asking for directions.
Disneyland is one of my absolute favorite places. I love the hustle and bustle of Main Street. The aroma of sweet popcorn seems to follow me everywhere I go. The only thing that dampers the experience is the crowds. They make it hard to see where I am going and can obstruct my path.
The "Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" is one of my all-time favorite rides. Yet, after getting lost in the wonder of the ride, this eight-year-old found herself lost in the gift shop. I could not find my parents and even faithful Tiger could not console me. I was petrified.
I frantically scanned the shop, but a sea of adults and children blocked my view. I could not see past what was right in front of me. As Winnie would say, oh bother!
As fear filled my little heart, I heard my Dad call my name. Phew! I was saved! He had been there the whole time, but my limited stature and view had blocked him from me.
I felt lost, but my father had an eye on me the entire time. He wouldn’t let me wander far before coming for me. Who knew!
As I’ve grown up, the childish fear I felt that day has been altered. I may not worry about losing my parents in a gift shop anymore, but I do worry about getting lost. I worry because I cannot see the blueprint.
Like that day at Disneyland, all I see is the people, the roadblocks inhibiting my vision. I cannot see the way.
We are all tempted to wander in order to find what it is we are seeking: money, success, relationship. We cannot see our goal in the immediate future so we abandon the path and go after it in our own might.
As a child, my parents always told me that if I felt lost, I should stay where I was. They would come and help me. I could do much more harm if I ran off to look for them. The same goes for life.
If we obey God and trust Him, we will never be truly lost. If we abandon the path, we will suffer loss and confusion.
We are humans. We cannot see what God sees. When things block our path we worry and assume God is not there for us. In truth, God is there the whole time. He is our Heavenly Father. If my dad can keep track of me in a hectic gift shop, our Heavenly Father can keep tabs on us no matter where we are.
So friend, my encouragement to you today is that God is with you. He has not abandoned you. He has not forsaken you.
No, you may not be able to see what is to come—but He can. And while you may feel lost, take heart in the knowledge that God is with us always. The Holy Spirit is within us. We need not fear.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
