Day 42 - The path

Wet afternoon, Capel-y-Ffin, Powys by Eric Ravilious, 1928

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth.

(Psalm 25:4-5a)

Who among us knows what life holds? Did Job? Did Ruth? No. Why then should we?

We will never understand God’s way. We may question His providence, we may even wrestle, but we will never understand. What we must do is trust. Despite everything that confronts us in our earthly realm, we must trust. Then we can say, like Job, ‘My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside’.

Wet afternoon, a pencil and watercolour work from 1938 depicts a lone figure walking down a country lane in a rain shower. The figure wears a rain hat and coat and walks along a winding lane that runs between two hedges. Rain is falling steadily giving the surface of the road a wet gleam and the foliage is lush and green. The Black Mountains can be seen in the distance to the right. One thing that intrigues me is the height of the hedges, and if they prevent the man seeing the goal ahead. The goal being the church ahead. Does he know the road, or is it a mysterious path along which he walks with trust?

Which brings us to today’s passage from Psalm 25, which is a heartfelt prayer for guidance and understanding. The psalmist is asking God to reveal His ways and to teach His paths, emphasising a desire to follow God's direction and wisdom. We can all learn from this. The request to be led in God's truth highlights the importance of divine truth in navigating life's journey. It reflects a deep trust in God's guidance and a commitment to living according to His will.

As lost sinners we could all do well to learn from the psalmists words.

I encourage all, having read this piece to say a short prayer, asking God to show us His ways and teach us His paths. Hopefully, this will set a positive tone for the day and aligns our heart with God's will.

Perhaps then spend time reading and meditating on the passage, seeking to help to understand God's truth and how to apply it in our daily decisions and actions.

Thereafter, throughout the day we can perhaps stop to reflect upon our actions and decisions, asking ourselves if they align with God's teachings.

And finally, may we all trust in God's guidance, even when the path seems unclear. May we all remember that His ways are higher than ours, and it is He who leads us in truth.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17)

Gwyn Davies