I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. — Psalm 32:8

We were walking through a parking lot recently and I had my son beside me. As we were walking, I noticed something on the ground ahead of us. If I had let him continue the path he was talking, my son was going to walk right through it. I quickly started to direct him in a path that would take him away from the mess that was certain to happen. Then his independence stepped in.

He quickly pushed back on me and said, “I’ve got it.” He continued down the path toward the mess in the parking lot. Being a typical kid, he was playing and jumping. He wasn’t concerned about cars and certainly not about the mess that was just ahead of him in the parking lot.

This time, I was a little more forceful in my redirection. I moved him from one side of me to the other, allowing me to guide him a little more firmly. He was not happy! He became upset, because I disrupted the game he was playing. But my actions kept him clear of the mess and safe from the cars around us.

There are times that we become upset when things happen in our lives. We are going on our way and disruptions happen, pushing us in another direction. But the truth is, we don’t always see what lies ahead like our Heavenly Father. Sometimes, He redirects us to keep us out of a mess and keep us safe.

Those times of redirection can be frustrating and challenging. But we have to remember that the Father has His eye on our path. He is directing and guiding our lives. Sometimes, His guidance is keeping you safe and out of a mess. Rather than being upset, we should trust Him. He knows what’s best!

Jared Dyson