Do you remember the childhood game “Follow the Leader”? One of the group will be the leader and the other children would do what he would do, balancing on one leg, hopping on one foot, running in a zig zag…
I don’t know about you, but I have always appreciated being the “leader” not only in the game but especially in my own life. I like to be able to figure out solutions, make a schedule, accomplish goals, and “lead” my life. It sure can get rough though when things pop up in our schedule, or a challenge appears out of the blue and suddenly, our “leading” is not feeling very effective. We have no idea what to do, or perhaps we have done all we know to do, and we just hit a wall. What then?
We must remember, He Goes Before Us. He’s the Leader.
When we focus on this truth, all the heaviness we have been carrying shifts away. All the “leading” and planning, and organizing, and failing… it all falls to the side. We are reminded of HIS GREATNESS. His Lordship. His plan. His purpose.
Our God, He goes before.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
Our God, He sees all.
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:13
Nothing catches Him by surprise.
“God saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
Psalm 139:16
God gives us license to become the ultimate follower. He gets to be the leader. And unlike the children “leaders” in the game, the actions He does are purposeful, planned, and produce the result He has in mind. Even if an “action” of His does not make sense to us, we can trust fully in our hearts that He is opening the ways meant for us and closing the ways that are not His way.
If we could get a feel of how much He cares for us, how much compassion and love He has for us, then we would feel so secure and safe in His love (read more here https://melanietalevski.com/2021/03/13/safe-secure-and-held/ ).
Here are a few of the passages in the Bible that show clearly the love and compassion He has for us:
“He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain…Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:2-5
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this While we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 9:35-36
I encourage you to meditate on these verses and others like it: Deuteronomy 31:8, Deuteronomy 1:30, Psalm 139:5, Isaiah 52:12, Isaiah 45:2, Psalm 136:16.
Meditate on them and let His continual, unconditional love wash over you. When we start to grasp even just the edge of that love, we realize He would not forsake us or leave us to our own striving or making our own way.
It is time to wait on the Lord. It may seem quiet, it may seem off the beaten path, it may seem unproductive or too slow. But God’s way is always the best way.
So the verse we’ve heard time and time again. It speaks to our hearts and inspires us once again…
My prayer for this week: God, thank you for being our Savior and going before us. Thank you for the compassion you feel towards us: your deep love that never leaves us no matter what. Please give us a glimpse of this love and let that love wash over us and take out the striving, the intense over-responsibility and help us lay these things at your feet.
We ask you’d open the doors meant for us, close the others. May your ways come to pass in our lives. We submit to you once again as Lord and Savior. We give you control. In this process help us trust you more.
I pray for my friends who have been holding out for your answers, your plans to the things they are facing. Give them strength and fortitude to keep trusting you. Show up big for them, and help them to not grow weary but continue to wait on you. Amen.
Blessings on your week, dear friend. ❤️🥰
Until next time,
Melanie Talevski 