Footsteps of Faith: Navigating the Muddy Paths of Life

Following an exceptionally rainy winter in Wales, the hiking paths have become treacherous mud pits. While hiking yesterday, Jason lost his footing in the mire and clutched onto a wooden fence post to steady himself. Little did he know, the post was rotted at the base. It nearly buckled beneath his weight. Thankfully, Jason regained his balance and the fence post before getting covered in mud.

As Jason managed to steady both himself and the decayed fence post, it struck me how frequently we seek solace in things other than the Lord in times of need, whether in people, material belongings, or our perceived capabilities. We place our faith in them, only to find that they are not as reliable as we initially assumed, much like the seemingly sturdy yet rotted post that Jason had clung to.

It's like the psalmist says in Psalm 62:2, "He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved." When we put our trust in the Lord, we have a solid foundation that won't crumble beneath us. He provides us with a sense of security and stability that will not falter or disappoint us, even in our darkest moments. The Lord is our beacon of hope and source of strength, a refuge that we can always turn to when the world around us feels uncertain and unreliable. With the Lord as our foundation, we can stand firm in the face of adversity, secure in the knowledge that we are not alone and have a divine protector who will guide us through even the most treacherous of storms.

Now, I'm not saying we should never lean on others or seek help when needed. But we need to be careful about where we place our ultimate trust. People can let us down, possessions can be lost or stolen, and our abilities can fail us. But the Lord is always faithful and true.

So, the next time you find yourself slipping in the mud of life, remember to lean on the Lord. He's the only one who can provide the support and stability we need to get back on our feet.

And if you slip and fall, don't be too hard on yourself. Just laugh it off, brush yourself off (which isn’t easy with Welsh mud), and keep moving forward. After all, as Proverbs 24:16 says, "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again."

So, friends, let’s keep getting back up and leaning on the Lord, who will never let us down.  Put your trust in Him alone, for He will stand strong no matter how harsh the storms of life may be.