Dead Ends

I went for a walk this afternoon and there were several ladies walking around praying.  I looked around, trying to find an area where I could be alone.  I spotted a path with only one other person on it.   As I walked, I began to tell the Lord of my love for Him and to invite Him to do as He wills in my life.  I continued walking on the path until I was alone.  Soon, I found myself at a dead end. 

 My prayer became, “God do you have something you want to teach me with this dead-end?” I sensed the Lord asking me, “What do you see?”  I answered, “A dead end.”   What I felt Him speak next gave me something to ponder.  “Is it really a dead end?”    Well, no.  In reality, the manmade path stopped.  There were land and options all around me.  Here is the difference, the path made by man was convenient, relatively safe, and easily accessible.  But, the other options would mean leaving my comfort zone.  I would have to clear out the weeds, risk running into creatures.  It wouldn’t be easy and may not be safe. To choose to make my own way, I would have to make a decision to press through and persevere.  

The question now becomes what do we do when we reach a dead end?  How do we know if it is the Lord warning us to stop and turn around, an obstacle thrown in front of us by the enemy, or just a natural roadblock to be cleared? Does a dead-end mean we should stop or press on through the more difficult terrain?

I have great news.  We don’t have to figure it out on our own.

HOLY SPIRIT

First, we have the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said “Let me assure you, it is better for you that I go away. I say this because when I go away I will send the Helper to you.” John 16:7   ^“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever” John 14:16  But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.  John 14:26

WORD OF GOD

Second, we have the Word of God.  “For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12    “All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

When you are at a dead end when there seems to be no way, yet God says go, go! He is the same God today as He was yesterday. (Hebrews 13:8)  He is the way maker!

• He parted the waters when there seemed to be no way (Exodus 14)
• He shut the mouths of the lions when there seemed to be no way (Daniel 6)
• He calmed the raging sea (Matthew 8)
• He fed the masses with the lunch of one boy (Matthew 14)
• He kept them safe when thrown into the fire (Daniel 3)

Sometimes we need to take the path that seems impossible and watch God work the miracles.

Next time you feel like you are at a dead-end, seek the Lord.  He will show you if you are to turn around and go the other way or whether you need to press on and watch Him make a way.

Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. Proverbs 3:5-6

Written by: Collette Sawyer