I'll Show You the Way

I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel.
–Psalm 32.8 (CSB)

“Lord, I don’t know what to do.”
 
This phrase has become commonplace in my conversations with God. I often find myself faced with situations and circumstances that leave me baffled and confused with no clear course of action. I know which Biblical principles I should follow but exactly “how” I should emulate them is often my question.
 
In those moments, I return to today’s verse: “I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel.” I am not required to know exactly how I’m to respond or move forward (i.e., “How am I supposed to live out faithfulness to you in this situation?”), but I am required to be ready and willing to move forward in obedience once he shows me how. We often know the principle to employ, but not how we ought to employ it.
 
Consider when a group of students disregarded the rules on a student trip. While we did not know of their disobedience on the trip, we did find out afterwards and it required discipline. These young people were key leaders with massive leadership potential. If we came down to harshly, we might do a great deal of harm. But to overlook their disobedience would also produce harm. So, we asked the question: “How do we discipline in a way that leads to restoration of these young people and a concrete demonstration of God’s grace and mercy in their lives?” 
 
The question at hand was not “Should they be disciplined?”; the answer was an obvious “YES!”. However, the question was: “How can we discipline them in a redemptive way?”
 
God saw all that was going on and was careful to show how to move forward. He showed us how to apply the Biblical principles we knew were at play in a way to honor Him, discipline these young leaders who erred, and also restore them in the process.
 
Months later, two of those young people came and thanked me for how we handled. They saw God’s love in our response and in the discipline and they responded accordingly.
 
When we allow God to show us the way to go, we tend to not make a mess of things. Yet, when we choose to disregard his counsel and instruction, we bring hurt and pain on both ourselves and others—regardless of the circumstance.

 For Reflection
When you find yourself in a difficult situation, who do you turn to first? Why?
 
In what ways might your handling of situations be different if you first asked God for his insight and understanding?
 
In what areas do you need God’s wisdom and instruction?
 
Pray
Pray and ask God to help you respond to his leading in all areas of your life.
 
Father, I thank you that you see what’s going on and that you are willing to show me what to do. Help me to listen to you and obey your instruction. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.