Your best possible path

Several weeks ago I was reading over Psalm 23, a set of scriptures that I have read over many times in the past and that I have heard preached on time and time again. Yet something about this day, something about this common chapter, was different. And to be frank, since losing Chance, my interaction with scripture has been just that. Different. I'm more focused and more deliberate and thus more in tune to truly hear His voice. Which is how one should always be when studying the word, no? With eyes and ears ready and hands open to say " Jesus speak so I can hear and receive and learn and then give your truth away." 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Our life is one big journey beginning at birth and ending at death. And our job in the in-between is to trust and follow. And while there is so much good that happens in this in-between there is also so much heartache and sadness and feelings of complete overwhelm. And its in these later moments that we want to run and hide and ask a million whys and demand a do over because surely this was not the path God had in mind. 

Yet if we trust Psalm 23 then we have to trust His ultimate path for our life, regardless of where He leads. We have to trust that even though we walk through the valley of (fill in the blank), we will not be overcome because the path He leads us down is our best possible path. A path that while annoying and frustrating and maddening while traveling, leads us ultimately to the best blessings. Blessings that we could never even dream up in our little limited human minds. He promises His path leads to righteousness (vs 3), and yet there is so much more. His path is one that leads to an overflowing cup (vs 5), and an abundance of goodness and love (vs 6), and a thousand other precious gifts promised in His word.

He guides me in paths of righteousness. . .

Even though I walk through the valley . . .

You prepare a table before me . . .

My cup overflows . . .

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. . .

The Lord is my shepherd, and where He leads I will follow. I will follow through the storm and the fire because I want that overflowing cup. I will follow when I am broken to my core because I want that table He has prepared for me. I will follow through the tears because I want that eternal dwelling. I will follow because He has written my best possible path. He has done the same for you. He is writing a story greater than you could ever write yourself. Do you trust His lead?