Confusion May Signal a God-Transition - The Crosswalk Devotional - November 11
Confusion May Signal a God-Transition
By Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading:
“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT
God is so creative.
Ever notice how He uses the most unusual things to teach us the lessons we need to know?
It happened to me today...
Taking a hike, I headed deep into the woods, leaves crunching underfoot. I kept my eyes alert, knowing I needed to take note of landmarks if I wanted to safely return to my car. You know how it is — it’s easy to quickly head somewhere without even realizing how you got there in the first place. That couldn’t happen; I wanted to make it home safely.
At first, seeing my path was easy — that is, until it wasn’t. What used to be visible gray ground had disappeared. Now, pine needles covered my path. And confusion set in...
Was I going right — toward that tall tree? Straight — toward no trees? Or left — toward a tree stump? I wasn’t so sure.
Have you ever been there? Going a certain way only to suddenly experience confusion? Disillusionment? Maybe you were headed somewhere with God, only to be obstructed... Maybe you thought you were on the right path until you ran into something...
This can feel discouraging and disorienting.
It can happen in marriages, jobs, joys, hobbies, friendships, vision, or calling. All the same, it becomes wearying to be on a path you thought was right — only to feel lost.
That’s how I felt — for a second — lost. But as I lifted my head and looked yards ahead, I saw it. There! The path.
I was safe — yet again.
However, those path-covering pine needles got me thinking... How did they get there to begin with?
I figured they arrived one of two ways:
- The wind blew them there.
- The new season of Fall placed them there.
Some of us today need to know that our confusion isn’t just about disorientation — it may be about God providing us with a new direction. And sometimes what covers the old path is actually preparing the ground for a new path.
When the winds of God come, though they displace things, it can be a very good thing. It is His repositioning. It is His moving.
Yes, it’s true — what we once knew can look different or even disappear. But this doesn’t mean it won’t be good. Even if we can’t see, by faith, we can still walk — trusting Him.
Likewise, confusion may signal a progression into a new season. The paths we knew in the old season may not suffice in a new one, which is why seeing can be hard.
The pine needles of Summer must fall to make way for Fall. We can’t hold on to what was and still step into the beautiful potential of what can be. Plus, the falling is part of the seeding of new ground. Did you know that pine needles prepare the soil and they save the path from weeds? In our not seeing, there is also God protecting us in the process of shifting seasons.
So, what do we do when we find ourselves here?
We readjust. We ask God if He has something new for us. We discern if He wants us to change course, change jobs, change relationships — or simply press through.
Either way, we take a time-out with the Lord to listen and discern.
“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT)
There is a time for everything — and sometimes, there is a time when God adjusts our vision so we can walk in a new direction.
If He is doing this in your life, be encouraged: He is not doing this to hurt you, but to guide you.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Have you ever headed somewhere with the wrong directions? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? A left turn should have been a right turn. Ten minutes turns into twenty. We all know this: when going the wrong way, it is essential to get back on track. Part of getting back on track is to get a map. The Word of God is our map. Jesus is our Sure-Guide. Father cares. Holy Spirit is the Revealer. If you feel off track, how about you get on your knees? How about you ask God to reveal to you what He is doing and how He is guiding you? How about you keep your eyes and ears open to how He may respond?
How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.
Photo Credit: Unsplash / Julentto Photography
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Related Resource: 9 Confusing Things about God– Answered By a Christian Philosopher
How can God be all-present (omnipresent) and yet be located in the temple and indwell believers? How can God know everything (omniscient) if He doesn't know what it is like to sin? How can God be a necessary Being if it is logically possible He doesn't exist? These are just a few of the tough, philosophical questions Sean McDowell discusses with William Lane Craig.
