AWAKEN: DAY 9

REMEMBER, YOU ARE DUST AND DUST YOU WILL RETURN.
SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 9


Isaiah 58:11

The LORD will guide you always; he will
satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail. (NIV)

MEDITATION BY Randy Gonzales


In 2008, Doralicia and I took a survey trip to Malaga, Spain, to discern if God was leading us to minister there. Our life leading up to the trip was busy. I was finishing a major project for my Master’s program, we were in the midst of completing a house-building project, and we were both fatigued. It felt like the worst possible time. But with tickets purchased, we were off to Spain.

Initial interviews with Spanish pastors and expatriate missionaries provided a dose of reality. As one of the most highly secularized European countries, the culture is antagonistic to the Church, proactively liberal, and challenging to break into relationally. In addition to having a high cost of living, Spain presents a high need for perseverance with potentially little fruit. No wonder it is known as a missionary graveyard. The picture was so bleak that by the third day, we were seriously leaning against going to Spain.

On the fourth day, after interviewing yet another pastor, I rode the train back to Fuengirola, the nearest station to Benalmadena, the town where we were staying. Walking off the exit ramp, I saw the main road that would take me to the house where we were lodged. I also noticed another pathway leading into the hills. I decided to take the road upward, anticipating a short hike home. That decision resulted in a two-hour excursion.

As night began to envelop me, I came to a crossroad with two signs: left to Benalmadena, and right to Fuengirola. My gut pointed me to Benalmadena, but I ended up walking back and forth between these two paths until I finally stopped on the road leading to Fuengirola. This path was less traveled, gravel lined, covered with trees, and a bit eerie. I was utterly lost, disoriented, nursing sore feet, with anxiety closing in. I prayed, “Lord, I am completely and totally lost. Would you please help me find my way?” After a few moments, I discerned these words in my mind, “Go in the direction you think you shouldn’t go.”

Puzzled by the illogic of the message, I waited and again heard the same words. So against all my instincts, I continued walking toward Fuengirola. About 150 yards later, I was standing directly in front of the gate to the house where we were staying!

Upon arriving, I was prompted by the Spirit to read the Bible and I turned to Psalm 32. In a moving epiphany moment, I soon realized that God had spoken his will in such an explicit way, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” We now realized that in his sovereignty, God wanted us to follow the path we felt like we shouldn’t go. It became clear that walking in the direction of Spain would become a process of trusting God to guide us through to well-watered gardens.

REFLECTION


In life's moments when you must go in the direction that may not feel correct, what keeps you from looking at the discomfort and instead seeing God’s promise of being satisfied as a well-watered garden?


Meditate on a situation when you needed God’s unique and timely direction. How did he guide you through this time?


During this Lent Season, what are some ways you can remember God’s promises to satisfy you in the processes of life?