Leading and Following

“Who is the one doing it, you or God?” ...I hate that question. If it’s you, then God is practically out of the picture. If it’s God, then what are you doing, sitting on the couch? “Neither” doesn’t work, and “both” sounds like a copout. You know what? The Bible rarely speaks in the language of one or the other doing stuff. More often it speaks of God telling the characters to do something, and those people doing it, or sometimes doing it. So it’s both, right? Not exactly.

Ever been on a walk with a good friend in their neck of the woods? Walking side by side, conversing about anything, loosing track of where you are because you have no need of keeping track? They are, in a sense, leading you. They pick the trails, they know where they are, they know how far it is from the house. They may even guide you over muddy areas. Leading, but walking side by side, conversing without intentionally instructing. You become so intent on the conversation and learning about your friend, that you simply follow their lead without thinking. The trail is no longer important, it may even turn out to be different than you would have chosen. Congratulations, you have exhibited trust in your friend.

Now replace that friend with God, and the trails with your life. Aha. That is why the Bible stresses focusing on God. Focus on Him, let Him lead, and it will be an amazing walk. Amazing does not mean lush grass…