GOD HAS A JOURNEY PLANNED FOR US BEYOND IMAGINING
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No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him. – 1 Corinthians 2:9 –
God has a plan. He mapped out His will for your life before you were born. He knew who you were destined to be… the choices you would make… what your receptivity to Him would be. God understood your heart… and whether or not you would ultimately choose Him.
Why is it we often go through life without seeking His will? The One who gives us life and breath… who loves us immeasurably… who has a plan for us beyond what we could hope for or imagine, longs for us to align our wills with His. He has the answers we are seeking. He has the perfect plan. Why then do we look to the world for answers and direction for our lives?
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. – The Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, was a Christian. He taught at Oxford alongside fellow professor and friend, C.S. Lewis. Throughout Tolkien’s books, the character of Gandalf is seen as a Christ figure. The wisdom, guidance, help and protection Gandalf brings to the people in these stories is reminiscent of that of Jesus in our lives.
Gandalf often offers his sage advice to the young hobbit Frodo. In this quote, he is imparting wisdom to guide him in perhaps the most important decision of the hobbit’s life. For the fate of the one ring that could bring evil to all Middle Earth is in Frodo’s hands.
Frodo is bemoaning the fact that he has been born in such a time. He wrestles with the choices before him… to stay in his beloved Shire where he could live a quiet and comfortable life… or risk his life journeying to Mordor, the evil realm. There he would seek to destroy the ring in the fire where it was forged long ago.
Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created. – Esther 4:14 (paraphrase)
Gandalf explains to Frodo that it is not our decision as to when we are born. We are to do the best we can with the time we are given on earth. To choose the path we know is right. Frodo is the only one in the story who has a chance to succeed in the dangerous task of destroying the one ring. To not pursue this path would bring about the doom of Middle Earth.
Frodo’s choice was one of great magnitude. In God’s eyes, our choices are also great… often with far-reaching ramifications. He has high hopes and expectations for us. He wants us to challenge ourselves… to step out in faith in His will.
The Lord will keep you from all harm — He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. – Psalm 121:7-8
Frodo’s journey was not without challenges. It was wrought with danger and adversity. Yet he trusted in the right choice he had made. And he knew that Gandalf would be going ahead of him, making his path free of obstacles... and rescuing him in his times of need.
Our Christian walk may not be along a path that is safe and comfortable. For the safe path may not be God’s will for us. What if He has an amazing journey planned? What if He were preparing to work mightily through us in some great way? Will we risk our “safe” life and set out on this new adventure where He promises to be with us every step of the way?
For the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. – Isaiah 52:12
We can set out on our journey of faith trusting that our God will be with us wherever we go. He will go before us and clear the way as we follow His plan for our lives. He will give us strength and courage for the adventure. And He will be the One who will be our rear guard, making our journey safe from beginning to end.
With God on our side, whom shall we fear? We place our faith in His promise to protect and provide. When we journey with Him along His path, we are under His blessing. It is there where we are truly safe.
† Eternal Takeaway – God’s plan for us may not be along the safe path, yet He will be with us †
