I’m standing in the middle of a road. Looking ahead, I see the pavement winding back and forth, and the farther it stretches the more narrow it becomes, until it disappears at a line drawn by an unseen artist, separating earth from sky. I put my hand up to shield my eyes from the sun, trying to gauge the distance. It looks pretty far from where I stand to where the road is a dot on the horizon–and I know that beyond the dot, it just keeps going. I’m excited, but I’m also scared. I’ve talked to people who have traveled this way. I’ve heard stories. I already know that there are places where the scenery is so beautiful that it will make me want to cry, and there are places where the walking is so difficult that it will make me want to cry then, too. I already know that there will be moments that will fill my heart with indescribable happiness and moments that will leave my heart empty except for the hurting. I already know that the trip will be wonderful and terrifying at the same time. And, today is the day. Today, I’m a new person, with a new life, a new destination, and I’m ready to get started. I turn my head to the side and see him standing there beside me, just as he said he would be, close enough for me to reach out and touch.
“I really think I can do this alone,” I say to him again.
“I know,” he answers.
“I’m sure there are other things you could be doing.”
And he tells me (for the third time), “I will never leave you.”
Life is a journey. It may sound cliche, but it’s true. Life is going from one place to another. It’s an extended road trip in a world that is not our home. The good news is that we have a travel companion, and He is not just any companion; He is the creator of the map, the designer of the topography, and the ruler of the road.
The even better news is that we can count on Him to stay with us, no matter what. We never have to “go it alone,” and when we do, it’s because we’ve rushed ahead or we’ve fallen behind. God made us a promise that He will not leave us.
We find His words in…
“I will never leave you nor forsake you”…Hebrews 13:5
The Greek word translated as “forsake” is egkataleipo, meaning “to abandon, to desert, to leave helpless, to leave in straits, to leave in a lurch, or to let one down.”
God won’t do any of those things. In the Greek text, the word is preceded by three negatives, even magnifying His powerful promise: “I will not, I will not, I will not abandon you, desert you, leave you helpless, or let you down.” God is always with us on this journey, but I think sometimes we forget.
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We forget to spend time with Him
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We forget to share the experience with Him
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We forget to include Him in the daily itinerary
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We forget to talk to Him as we go
Maybe we’re busy.
Maybe we’re angry.
Maybe we’re sidetracked.
Maybe it’s a pride thing.
Maybe we’re too focused on the right walking shoes, the right gear, and the right pace that we ignore the right company.
Maybe we are concentrating so hard on putting one foot in front of the other that we don’t even realize that He’s there, guiding us, holding us steady, and even bearing our weight when our feet don’t want to move.
Maybe we’re enjoying the incredible sights, oblivious to the fact that the One who made them is standing right there beside us.
Remember, daily walking with God means choosing–every single day–to live in faithful obedience to Him. It’s cultivating a close relationship with God, our traveling companion, and trusting Him to lead the way. It’s characterized by loyalty and devotion. It’s a manner of living that cannot be experienced apart from prayer.
If we want to daily walk with God, then we must talk to Him.
Think of these godly women of the Bible and how they prayed:
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Anna prayed day and night…Luke 2:36–38
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the Canaanite woman prayed with persistence…Matthew 15:22–28
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Miriam prayed in gratitude...Exodus 15:19–21
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Deborah prayed in victory...Judges 5:1–9
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Hannah prayed in sorrow…1 Samuel 1:10–16
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Mary prayed in praise...Luke 1:46–55
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Lydia prayed in worship…Acts 16:11–15
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Hagar prayed in desperation…Genesis 21:15–19
On any given day, these reasons to pray line our paths like street signs, and the One–the only One–who can hear our prayers and help us navigate the course is right by our side, waiting to hear what we have to say.
I’m standing at the end of the road. My journey is complete. Before I take the final step, I turn around and look back at where I’ve been. There are twists and turns in the road, and I remember each one. There are places where the ground is cracked and broken and my heart still aches as I think about walking through those days. I close my eyes and think about the sunshine, the rain, and the storms. I think about the times that made me want to quit. I think about the moments I wanted to last forever. I recall all of the valleys and all of the mountain peaks. I bring my head down into my hands as the tears begin to fall–happy and sad tears for a beautiful, heart-breaking life filled with love and loss. I turn my head, and through my tears, I see Him still beside me, true to His word. In that moment, I see clearly that one thing has remained consistent; one thing has stayed constant through the highs and the lows, the joys and the sorrows: I have experienced them all with God, my travel companion, and my faithful friend. The only One who knows me completely, shares all of my memories, and the One who will take this final step with me. Then, as I cross over into eternity, I will see Him fully––the One who has laughed with me, cried with me, listened to me, and helped me throughout my life-journey. The One who has heard my voice, held my hand, and led me Home.
