Look at the headlines, watch the news (wait, maybe you shouldn’t) but if you do you’ll soon see that the world is confused. Worldviews are many and are not consistent. Insanity abounds, moral codes are void; there is chaos, wars, and rumors of wars. Yet we can walk in the midst of this craziness because we have Someone beside us; Someone who is leading us no matter the situation.
“He leadeth me! O blessed tho’t!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’re I be,
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.”
–Joseph H. Gilmore
The thought in itself is indeed, blessed. No matter where or what, Christ is there leading us through it. I have often said that God does not deliver us out of our problems or situations (when He does it is called a miracle) but rather He goes through them with us. We can be in the “slough of despair”, in the midst of doom and gloom and He is there leading us. We can be on the mountain top with exceeding joy in our hearts and He is there leading us.
“Sometimes ‘mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,–
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me!”
Paul tells us to be content in whatever state we find ourselves. The only way that can happen is to trust in Jesus and let Him lead us. Wherever we find ourselves, do not let go of His hand for that may be the only way you can get through the situation. Have you ever been walking along, and all of a sudden you feel His hand grasp you tighter? The grip is sure, and you know that He will not let you go. Don’t complain that He is holding you too tight, but recognize the security in the grasp of His hand.
“Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine,
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me!”
“Are we really going into that storm?” you ask. Oh no, not the wilderness! Don’t complain or murmur but rest secure that it is the Lord leading you. One day, each of us will face that great unknown–death. It will come, but realize that in death there is victory, for the Lord will lead you across the vale into His presence forevermore.
“And when my task on earth is done,
When, by Thy grace, the victory’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God thro’ Jordan leadeth me.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me:
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.”