When my husband is driving, I sometimes often need to resist the urge to give directions. You see, I want to say things like:
You’ll want to turn left here.
It’s better if you avoid that road.
You’re going that way?
And it’s all because I think my way is better.
Now, over the years my tendency to be a back-seat driver has slightly diminished because I have realized something:
My husband knows the way.
I have often struggled with being a backseat driver in my life as well. I know God is supposed to be the One steering me through the course of life, but I want to be the one in charge.
As I have been reading through the psalms, God continually reminds me that He knows the way. The best way.
Psalm 18 says:
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 18:30)
David tells me that God’s way is perfect. The Hebrew word for way is derek which means road, journey, path, or course of life. And the word perfect in Hebrew means complete and whole. It is used often in the Old Testament to describe the animals that were to be brought for sacrifice in the temple–without blemish.
God’s path or road through life is complete.
It isn’t deficient or lacking.
It is not defective or flawed.
Although the world continually tries to get me to follow current trends and popular advice, it usually doesn’t take me long to discover those ways are inadequate.
Only God’s way is perfect. In other words, if I follow God’s directions, I will always be on the right road.
David takes this idea of God’s perfect path a step further in verse 32:
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (Psalm 18:32)
This makes things a little more personal. It might be fairly easy for me to agree with the fact that God’s way is perfect–for other people.
But to believe that God makes my way perfect means I have to stop giving the directions and be willing to take them. It means I have to admit:
My way is flawed
My way is deficient
My way is not perfect.
Not very easy for this recovering control freak.
But God invites me to take His hand while He guides me on the path He has designed and trust that it truly is perfect for me.
God invites me to take His hand and trust that the path He has designed is truly perfect for me. Share on XIn His love, the Father has laid out a road that brings me closer to Him.
In His wisdom He has found the best lane to travel in.
In His power He enables me to follow the route He has planned.
Background information: Psalm 18 is a personal psalm of praise. It was written by David, a “servant of the Lord.” David instructed the choirmaster to use this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord rescued him form the hand of his enemies–especially Saul. If you would like to join me in reading through the psalms during this Lenten season, download this free reading guide.
Next step: Pray with me, “Lord, forgive me when I have doubted that Your way is perfect. When I have insisted on a path of my own choosing, no matter how flawed or incomplete it was. Help me to wholeheartedly believe that You are guiding me on the best possible path to a fulfilling life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”