A Place Unknown
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
Insight
Where do you turn when you don't know what to do? How do you move forward when you don't have the information you need to make the best decisions? I found myself in an unknown place in 2023 and desperately wanted God's guidance. I needed to understand His will for my life. I needed His wisdom over my wants. This deep longing for awareness is how I landed on my 2023 word: WISDOM.
I'd hoped to gain Solomon's wise ways, receiving affirmations from the Lord, signifying that I was heading in the right direction. I read the book of Proverbs for enlightenment and inspiration. I listened to several podcasts to better educate myself on the Bible and theology. I was going to be wise! And while I did learn new things from my deep digging for truth, I ultimately discovered that I lacked the wisdom I hungered for. Knowledge is not the same thing as wisdom. Wisdom is knowing what to do with the knowledge you have.
Here's where God's grace ushered in—the revelation of my shortcomings was exposed with love and kindness rather than wrath and shame. The goodness of God showed me what I should do despite what I did, and not in a "behavior modification" kind of way or a transactional "if you do this, I'll do that" approach. God was granting me the wisdom to see that His way was better because His way leads to life.
Though the Lord never illuminated my path, His word, like a lamp unto my feet, provided just enough light for me to see the next step while keeping me close to Him. In this journey, we will never have the spotlight we all think we would like; if we did, we would most likely run ahead, leaving God behind and being left to our own devices. We belong in a relationship with God–we've been made for it. His nearness is how we learn His ways and depend on Him for all our needs.
In choosing a word for the year, one of my hopes is to see personal transformation, which can also transform how I see God. In my darkness, God's presence was like a candle providing a soft, warm light. His gentleness guided me in truth and compassion. He didn't demand perfection amid my pain; instead, God held my heart with care and comfort like the good Father He is. Though I had a grand vision for what the past year would look like through the lens of my word, what I've discovered is something so much grander: a deeper understanding of God's heart and character.
Reflection
The new year may be filled with "unknown places." What is your tendency in times like this? Do you tend to lean into the Lord for strength and guidance or take matters into your own hands?
The unknown can bring forth a range of emotions: fear, sadness, anger, confusion, and anxiousness. How do you navigate challenging emotions? Do you have a trusted friend to confide in to help with encouragement and support? What does your community look like?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for showing up in ways we may least expect. Your presence can change us when everything else remains the same. In the new year, help us lean into healthy practices, tools, and relationships for personal growth and a more profound knowledge of You and Your ways. As we lean in, may our trust deepen in you, ourselves, and one another. In Your name, we pray, Amen.
Mandy Hughes, Care Groups Coordinator, wrote today's devotional.