“The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”” Psalms 32:8-9 NLT
Life consists of a series of choices and decisions that can literally make or break us and shape, for good or bad, who or what we are or become. In the current generation and in Western society, there are a wealth of opportunities, particularly for the young. But they will gradually dwindle if wrong choices are made. For example, someone who doesn’t do well at school or wastes educational opportunities will find that their choices for employment when they leave school will be much more limited than they would have been otherwise. Similarly, if wrong choices are made regarding a partner in marriage, then the repercussions could reverberate through the following years. How many times do we hear a conversation start with an, “If only I had ….”.
These two verses in Psalm 32 are interesting, because they provide a counter-cultural opportunity for those who are willing to trust God with their lives. You see, God knows the end from the beginning. He knows what is best for us because He made us. He knows the optimum way for our lives and has promised to guide us through life, leading us away from the pitfalls that will trip us up and trap the unwary. His advice is faultless and amazingly, He will watch over us as we live out our lives.
But there is another amazing thing that happens for those who trust in Him. He will gently lead us away from danger without us even knowing He is doing it. I look back over my life and, in hindsight, I see the hand of God gently leading me away from wrong decisions or wrong choices. And even when I have ignored His advice and fallen into error, He has helped me get back on the right path.
We have a God who cares for us, who loves us, and, as this Scripture says, will lead and guide us through our pilgrimage through life. Sometimes, I wonder why people would rather be like “a senseless horse or mule” than trust in the Living God. Hmm….
Being a Pilgrim 