Hubby and I were adventuring to Big Meadow Lake. Big Meadow Lake is located far away from civilization. And far away from all cell service.
Knowing that we would not have cell service, and not completely trusting GPS to get us there, I took several screenshots of my map app of the route to get to Big Meadow Lake before we left home.
The thing is, the screenshots I took were of the route coming in off the main road from the east. Hubby and I were driving in from the west, and hubby’s GPS indicated a backroads route which was much shorter and much more direct, coming in from the west.
Hubby’s GPS must have downloaded all the data needed to get us to Big Meadow Lake. Because while my map app lost all cell service and turned to a blank white grid … hubby’s map app continued to have the blue line of the GPS showing us where to go. Hubby and I drove and drove … further and further out into the middle of nowhere, following the blue line on the GPS.
The map screenshots I had taken (just in case the GPS quit working and we needed a map) were useless at this point. We had no paper map. We had no cell service. And we had no idea where we were.
At this point we were just following the blue line on the GPS and hoping the map app had downloaded all the information needed to get us where we needed to go. Further and further we went on dusty gravel tracks, climbing high up into Colville National Forest and the Selkirk Mountains.
When it comes to life, this is oftentimes what it feels like as we follow Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the “blue line” … the Holy Spirit is the GPS which shows us the “blue line” of where to go.
“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD.” – Jeremiah 29:11
“All the days ordained for me were written in your book, before one of them came to be.” – Psalm 139:16
Many people would rather live their life their own way without worrying about following the “blue line” of where Jesus would like them to go. This is like driving out in the middle of nowhere with no map and no cell service and deciding we can find where we are going on our own.
Obviously, this will not end well. If we are out in the middle of nowhere with no map and no cell service, deciding we’ll find our way on our own … we’ll get lost. And we’ll eventually wind up in trouble.
We must follow the blue line!
Jesus Christ is the “blue line” … and the Holy Spirit is the “GPS” which shows us the “blue line” of where to go.
But sometimes the “blue line” leads us down roads we aren’t quite sure about. Such as … when the “blue line” leads us down a road of illness … and the “blue line” leads us into an infusion room.
The road becomes a narrow one-lane gravel track, with a steep cliff rising up on one side, and a sheer drop-off on the other. Over the edge, the land falls away to nothing. It is frightening following the “blue line” down this scary bumpy narrow gravel track.
Coming up over a rise, we are met with the unexpected shock and surprise of the road dead-ending! The road just stops! There is no way to turn around. There is no way to back up. It feels like we’re stranded, on this very scary narrow precipice.
Such as, for example … when one’s specialist Dr. leaves town … and moves to Hawaii to live the dream (without telling anyone), leaving patients dumped and stranded with no one to oversee their care … and no way to receive life-sustaining medication they are depending on.
We stand at the dead-end. The “blue line” led us here. Will our Good Shepherd take care of us?? Will the “blue line” show us a way out of this??
Yes! There is a side-road … the “blue line” is showing us where to go!
Even when the road dead-ended, there was a side-road to lead us out. Jesus, our “blue line” didn’t leave us stranded. Jesus, our “blue line” and the Holy Spirit, our “GPS” didn’t turn to a blank white screen. The “blue line” is continuing to show us where to go!
“The LORD is my Good Shepherd, I shall not be in want.” Jesus is our “blue line” and he will lead us! Jesus, our “blue line” will show us where to go!
“My Good Shepherd makes me lie down in green pastures.” Sometimes “green pastures” looks like an infusion room. Yes! Sitting in that recliner chair in that infusion room is indeed “green pastures.” Thank you Good Shepherd for “green pastures”!
“My Good Shepherd leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Sometimes “quiet waters” looks like a quiet slow drip of an IV bag of medication. Yes! This is indeed “quiet waters.” And in the process, my Good Shepherd is restoring my soul. Thank you Good Shepherd for “quiet waters”! Thank you Good Shepherd for restoring our soul!
“My Good Shepherd guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” This dead end which looked disastrous was actually an opportunity to trust my Good Shepherd. It was a chance for my faith to be stretched … and for my faith to grow. Thank you Good Shepherd for leading me in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for my Good Shepherd is with me; … my Good Shepherd comforts me.” This dead end was the “valley of the shadow of death” … but my Good Shepherd was with me! My Good Shepherd comforted me! My Good Shepherd showed me a “blue line” of a side road to escape this dead end. My Good Shepherd opened up a path forward. Thank you Good Shepherd for leading and guiding me with the “blue line”!
“My Good Shepherd prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. My Good Shepherd anoints my head with oil; my cup overflows.” My Good Shepherd provides peace in the journey! My Good Shepherd provides joy in the journey. Thank you Good Shepherd for your peace! Thank you Good Shepherd for your joy!
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” My Good Shepherd will take care of me all the days of my life! My Good Shepherd will lead me safely to the final destination!
As you can see hubby and I made it to Big Meadow Lake.
So too, when it comes to life, we can trust the “GPS” of the Holy Spirit as we follow the “blue line” of Jesus, and our Good Shepherd, will get us to our final destination.
