The Life Journeys of a Disciple

As followers of Christ, I can imagine that we all want to follow the lead of His Spirit. We know that this is not only what we are expected to do according to God’s Word, but also we know from Jeremiah 29:11 that wherever the Spirit leads is good and profitable for us. Considering this, I’m wondering where the Lord is leading you?

I’ve been led by the Lord to many places. Many of them come to mind with a flood of memories bringing joy and gratification; Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Honduras, Maui, England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Scotland, Egypt, Nigeria, Benin, Eswatini, South Africa, Spain, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Lanzarote, Bahamas, Cozumel, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, with a year spent living in Germany. These travels took me far, but I’ve also traveled and lived a bit closer in my own country. All of these life journeys have not only enriched my life with friends, experiences and personal learning, they have shaped my family’s lives too. God used each to teach me valuable lessons about Him, myself and others. I would not be the person I am today or know God the way that I do if I hadn’t followed God’s leading to all these places.

Sometimes, however, God called me to journey to places I would, frankly, rather not go. I remember years ago when God called me to journey to the wounded areas of my soul and explore the pain that continued to be held deep within me. He led me to face things I tucked away so deep as a child that I didn’t remember them consciously. God knew though, and He knew how this pain hindered my relationship with Him, and others. So, He asked me to go back and face the pain to move forward in a freedom I didn’t have. It was an extremely difficult time for me. At other times, He leads us into seasons of solitude, or somewhere else equally challenging for us. The thing is when we are disciples of Christ, God doesn’t promise us our lives will always be led through amazing times. Sometimes He asks us to follow, and we experience suffering through dark and painful times. Through it all, He assures us in His word, when we follow Him in trust and remain in faith no matter what we experience, He will turn it to good, He will be with us and never leave us, and there is nothing that can separate us from His love,

I can faithfully say that God has blessed me with greater growth and depth of relationship with Him through the good, the bad, and the challenging life journeys. It hasn’t always been a ‘walk through the park’ but the fruit of seeing His character increasingly formed in me is worth it all.

Where is God leading you today? Wherever it is, God will be with you and promises that it is to give you a future and a hope!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38, 39