Crossroads

Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. – Jeremiah 6:16

 In Jeremiah 6, the prophet says that Israel is at a crossroads. Have you ever been there? In your professional life, your education, your dating relationships? Has there been a time when you faced a number of options, all of which looked equally attractive but presented wildly different futures? Maybe one path looked easy – a college close to home, a job in the same building where you’d been an intern, dating the pastor’s daughter/son. Maybe the other path was more uncertain – a college in a different part of the country, a career that wasn’t certain to bring financial stability, dating a guy/girl your parts couldn’t stand.

Jeremiah has advice for Israel and for you. Check out his instructions in verse 16:

Stop. Recognize the crossroads right in front of you. Before you make a decision, take some time to reflect and seek God’s will.

Look. Immediate distractions or hindrances directly in front of us might cause us to miss the right path.

Ask. Talk to God and people you trust. Seek wise counsel. Dig into the Word. This part’s important. Hebrews 2:1 warns us that “we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.”

Walk. Once you’re certain of God’s will, take those first steps on the path with confidence.

Travel. Once you’ve made all the preparations, you can enjoy the journey and delight in all the surprise and abundance you find along the way.

When you reach a crossroads in your life, find peace and certainty by following God’s will!

Prayer: There are so many decisions and possibilities in front of me today. I can’t trust my emotions. Give me the wisdom I need to help me choose the right path, and walk with me no matter which way I go. Amen.