LEAven Blog

Last spring, my husband, Matt, and I went to a Battlehawks game and parked in a parking garage in downtown St. Louis that was attached to a building undergoing renovation. We went to what was marked as an exit, but when we got to the bottom of the stairs, there was no ‘out’ door. It led to an area under construction. We walked toward another door, no exit. This happened several times. Find a door, find an exit sign, not an exit, more construction. It felt like we were trapped in a labyrinth and would never get out. We did finally manage to find an exit. Sometimes, we put our trust in signs or other means of guidance and still get lost.

In an era where most people have a cell phone, people think they get lost less often. You type in your destination, and the little voice tells you where to go. We often follow blindly, trusting that we will reach our desired location without any problems. But every once in a while, the GPS isn’t correct, and we end up at a dead end or facing a closed road that the phone didn’t know was there. We are momentarily lost.

What else do we trust that might lead us astray? Opinions of peers or parents. Popular trends. ‘New’ theories. Social media. There are many voices that vie for our attention. Many sinful voices.

There is one voice that will never lead us astray. John 10: 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Jesus promises that He knows us, speaks to us, and we can follow Him.

We have a new school year ahead of us. A year for which we have planned, prepared, and rested up. But we don’t know what this year will bring. There are always surprises and unknowns. There is no GPS for this. However, God has also planned this year. He loves us and promises to lead us and even carry us through. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.

Lord God, You have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(The prayer is from Lutheran Worship, Morning Prayer setting.)