The Better Path

One of my favorite shows, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart, is currently showing a season in which the main character, who we all love and identify with, has a major choice between two men who have captured her heart. One, mysterious yet kind and patient, the other noble, strong, and a tad unsettled. What choice will she make? It has been the question the whole season long, or more appropriately, for a few seasons long. But with the promise from the executive producer that she will make a choice by the end of the season, we all wait as patiently (or impatiently) as we can. 

*All picture rights go to Crown Media, Hallmark Channel and the makers of When Calls the Heart.*

It makes me think about the choices we have every day. It is easy to decide when we have an obvious bad choice vs. a good choice, but like in Elizabeth’s case, both men are worthy suitors, which one will she choose? Often we are presented daily with choices that are not good vs. bad, but rather good vs. better. It is hard to see clearly when something good is competing against something better. Both options look agreeable! For our life and choices, this is when the Holy Spirit comes into play. He will speak in His gentle way and guide us. 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8 

“You may realize the detour is the actual path." - Anonymous 

A couple years ago, I was following down the highway of my life in what was clear and easy to see was my “right choice”. It was a great choice and great life, but then, there came a whisper from the Holy Spirit and a little plain detour came into sight. To continue with my “highway” analogy, it was like a turn off the highway with a small dirt road. It appeared to not be well traveled…. Nothing special, yet, there was a gentle tug to go down this new road. It was a “detour” of sorts. Along this new stretch of road I have found some of my most favorite treasured spots as well as I can hear more clearly the Holy Spirit’s voice. So what was that? It was trading my “good” for something even “better”.

Often we don’t hear this call to the “better” until the Holy Spirit comes and gently taps on our heart…. Sometimes over and over again until we become aware— oh, there is another path over there! Maybe from appearances it does not look to be anything special, yet the Holy Spirit leads there, His hand outstretched to us inviting us to come. 

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Isaiah 30:21

In making space for Him— for the Holy Spirit to lead— I have found some of the best peace of my life. Something about surrendering our obvious good choice and following Him admits our dependence on Him and sort of quickly gets us in over our heads. It’s this feeling of, wow, if He fails me now, I will be considerably lost and not sure what to do… getting to that place of vulnerability and complete trust is hard… it seems like it could be simple, yet, how simple is jumping out of a plane not sure if your parachute is going to activate or not? But we can know that where the Spirit leads, He will equip and provide for us what we need. It is the ultimate TRUST TEST. Yet it leads us in the path of truth each time: 

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:13

So today we have a choice…. Instead of a choice like Elizabeth’s between two good men, we have a choice between good and better. The better path can be risky…. It can be unsure. It draws us out from what is comfortable (read my blog post on the Hobbit https://melanietalevski.com/2021/01/30/journey-on/ for more on this).  It can be nerve wracking and lonely at times, yet it can be most rewarding, causing us to lean into God and the direction of the Holy Spirit more than ever before. We can see new sights we never thought existed. We can feel a measure of peace in our hearts never known before because we completely rely on Him and His Spirit. This better path means a deep surrender, a deep fall back and the ultimate trust test, but it can lead us to the most fulfilling and purposeful life yet. 

May we take time this week to listen to the gentle “tap, tap” the Spirit has been giving each of us, perhaps even for years. It’s simple… we can just breathe out an invitation. It can be as easy as this: 

“I hear you. What are you saying?” 

He will be sure to show us. Especially as we learn to tune our ears to His voice. Perhaps it will just be a gentle nudge to step out a different way. 

Through it all, God, help us lean on you. 

My kids often hear me singing snippets of old hymns… the latest phrase being from “Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus”,

“Oh for grace to trust You more”.

Yes, Lord, this is the cry of our hearts, help us to trust you more. (Isn’t He so amazing?  He isn’t just trustworthy, but he will also help us trust Him more! Now that’s the kind of help we need) 

Along with this path of trusting Him more comes complete honesty. Let’s not be afraid to tell him how unsure or scared or fearful we feel. We can tell Him about the twinges we feel in our hearts… the things that we notice but aren’t sure what they are about and why He is trying to get our attention. And we can take a step…. One that resonates with our hearts and what the Lord has been speaking. We might be surprised to find ourselves “exiting” the highway and going onto what appears to be a “detour”. And often that detour leads to the intimate and “better” path with the Lord. 

So, be brave Dear One… put your hand in His. Be confident in His leading. He cares for you. He will be with you, deliver you. If you are willing, He will take you from the “good” (or yes even the absolute bad, messy situations) and into the better life. No, this better life isn’t without problems or struggles… in fact you may face more challenges on the onslaught of this journey because of the presence of evil fighting against you because your destiny is about to be realized. But hand in hand with Him, you can be sure that He leads to the better path… the path that transforms you to completely and fully you— who God made you to be down in the core of who you are. It’s a place of living completely caught up in His Spirit and living from a place of abundance in your relationship with Him. 

He holds out His hand today… 

Come, Dear Heart. His hands are strong, warm and inviting. 

But I am scared, we whisper. How can I leave all that is comfortable and good? 

His smile is patient, kind, understanding. His hand remains outstretched. Come with me. 

And in that moment we realize that is the key— going with Him. Our hearts tingle with nervousness but we stretch out our hand and instantly His warm hand cups ours. 

One step at a time, He says and leads us off the well-trodden highway and onto the unknown path of the detour. 

It’s on this path that, as we travel on, we see things we never imagined…. The gentle flow of the river of God, the high tops of the mountains in God’s kingdom… a journey, a path that He leads. Yes, it is the better path. 

Friend,  there is nothing greater than saying YES to where the Lord leads and making space for Him and His plan. It seems BIG, perhaps too big… yet it starts with a step… an active choice to listen, respond, and communicate constantly with Him. I pray that your knee-jerk reaction in this life would be to breathe conversations with Him constantly… Place your trust in Him and take that next step where He leads. 

He is faithful to meet you there. And the next step and the next. 

Until next time, 

PS. I would love to talk with any of you who are finding yourself in your own transition time. Believe me, I have gone through a big one the last couple years, but am finding myself starting to emerge on the other side in a place of being even closer to the Lord, trusting Him more and more every day. I’d like to encourage you! Leave a message below and I will respond or go to my contact page and send me an email. I pray that God’s best would be realized and lived in your life from this moment on out. 

PSS. Are you a fellow When Calls the Heart fan? Give a shout out for the guy you wish for Elizabeth to pick at season’s end… the mysterious and kind Lucas Bouchard or the loyal and noble Nathan Grant? 

*All picture rights go to Crown Media, Hallmark Channel and the makers of When Calls the Heart.*

Also, I have a fanfiction devoted to the development of Rosemary’s story (written following season 4) Here’s the link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12658012/1/The-Rosemary-Chronicles I had an absolute blast writing it and I hope you enjoy reading it too. 

Here are a few pictures of my sister and I on our WCTH adventure in 2018. Yes, we were able to go to the Hearties Reunion: a gathering for fans of the show where we got to meet the cast and tour the fictional town of Hope Valley. It was an absolute trip of a life time and full of great sister memories.