Having a map when you are in an unfamiliar place is a good thing. But if you can’t read or understand the map, then it is useless. That is what happened when we were on a hiking trail at a park.
Scott is very good at reading trail maps. Unfortunately, he got the wrong map. He grabbed the map that showed all the different parks along the parkway going through three states. It was a good map to know how to get to the park from our city but not how to get around in the park itself.
I had the trail map but I didn’t fully understand it. I knew how to get around if we were on the outer trails but once we were in the middle of the park with all the connecting trails, I got confused. So I gave the map to Scott and just followed wherever he went.
While on the trail coming from the parking lot, we saw a couple who were looking at their map and discussing which path to take. As we got closer to them, they asked if we knew how to get to the parking lot. I said that we were just there and they should take the path we came from.
When we were coming back from our hike, we came upon two ladies standing in front of a big trail map of the area. They asked if we knew where ‘home base’ was. Scott looked at the map he had in his hands, which was the same as the big map the ladies were looking at. He pointed at a path going up, “The parking lot is just over the top there.” They headed up that direction as we did, too.
The map is supposed to help us get from point A to point B but if we don’t know how to read the map, or understand it, then we can get stuck or even lost. Asking someone who has been where you want to go, or knows how to read the map, gets you where you want to be faster than trying to figure it out yourself. That is why there are so many advisors out there in the business world.
It is okay to have a business coach or mentor to get you to the level you want to reach. Just make sure you ask the Holy Spirit for guidance first. He may give you understanding or direct you to the solution or He may even bring someone to tell you the path to go.
Prayer
Dear God in heaven,
Thank you for not letting us go through life alone. We are blessed with Your Holy Spirit inside of us and those people You send in our paths. Help us to ask for help when we need it and to be of help when needed.
In Your Son’s name, Amen
Verses
Psalms 25:4 Make me understand Your ways, Lord, point out the road for me to follow
Proverbs 16:9 We plan our course but the Lord directs our steps
Proverbs 3:6 Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will make your paths straight
Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or left, you will hear a voice, “This is the way you should go.”
Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path
John 16:13 When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you
Song
“Thy Word“ by Amy Grant is a song we sang in our university fellowship. It is short and simple but sweet.
Call to Action
If you have already prayed, looked up the verses in your Bible, and listened to the suggested song, then find a trail to hike and let us know if you used a map or a guide.