The Bible often depicts our life experience as one likened to running a race (Hebrews 12:1-2). And this proverbial race of life is typically not linear. It is uphill and down. It takes us around sharp bends that obstruct our view, and challenges us to navigate terrain that is dangerous, lonely, and confusing.

Often times, the only saving graces we have are our internal compass—the Holy Spirit—and the word of God. This is how He lights our path—aways before us, each step of the way.

Our example this week is based on the journey of the Israelites through the Red Sea. Read the entire story of the Exodus if you can. It’s amazing. In short, they had spent years in slavery and had called out to God for help. He heard them and set their sights in a new direction—freedom.

Sounds good, right? Wrong. Why? Because they had to trust God and His plan, especially when all they could see was a massive obstacle before them (the Red Sea as a barrier to their freedom) and the past of slavery chasing them down and hemming them in from behind. They were stuck. Or seemingly so from their limited perspective. Gridlocked!

What they didn’t know at the time, which we are privy to as beneficiaries of the entirety of the Bible, is that this was a critical leg of their race. And with only the radiance from the pillar of God to light their way—cloud by day, fire by night—He led them one unsure step at a time. It was an exercise in surrendered trust.

Like the Israelites, we too find ourselves in the predicament of a limited perspective. We are trying to run the race God has set out for us, and yet feel gridlocked when we come to a place of uncertainty and stagnation. The key to finding our way is found in what we set our sights on. Will we focus on the obstacles before us and the ones hemming us in from behind? Or will we fix our sights on where He is illuminating our next step?

All night long, the Israelites walked through the path of the Red Sea which was split in half, edge-to-edge with the power and breath of God. The only illumination for their way was a pillar of light to guide each unsure step with the hopes of freedom and a future He had foretold. Epic!

Yes, the epic nature of the Israelites journey to the Promised Land was, and is, amazing. But so is ours. I get it, our lives and our steps don’t always feel epic when we are trudging through the mundane or navigating the uncertain steps of the narrow road, but they undoubtedly are if they are guided and girded by the Divine. That’s literally all it takes to end your very own journey with “epic” and “amazing” as exclamation points.

And this brings us to our scripture for the week; “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105) Hidden in this passage is the beauty of limited vision. I know that doesn’t sound beautiful nor fun for that matter given that we have a propensity to seek full disclosure and a comprehensive knowledge of where we are going before we commit to the course. But God doesn’t typically work that way, does He?

He has a way of giving us a vision and yet limiting our ability to see all the details of how we will get there. I believe this is His way of protecting us from ourselves. If we have all the details of the journey, we might not want to go for fear of all the twists and turns we are destined to face.

With that in mind, sometimes we need to stop and take inventory and allow God to illuminate just enough terrain to take one step forward. Sometimes it’s about taking that very next step. And then another. And then another.

In the end, our life is a culmination of putting one unsure foot in front of the other, over and over again until we get to where God wants us to be. Then, we can say with confidence and assurance that we have walked the journey and run our race through faith and in trust. At the end of it all, when we see how our paths all converged for one divine goal, one heavenly purpose, will we see that our own journey was also Epic! It’s just His way.

Reflect and Respond:

What has God told you about where you are headed? Perhaps He has given you enough room to pick up the pace and run toward a goal He’s placed in Your heart. Or maybe He’s only given you enough light to see one step ahead. Wherever you are today, steady your gaze and your footing by allowing Him to illuminate your path. You ARE on an epic adventure, one divine step at a time.

Hugs for a great week and remember, you are not alone. Be blessed as you take your very next epic step.