I must avoid the temptation to be a “plain-path Christian.” The psalmist, surrounded by enemies, asked God to lead him in a “plain path” (Psalm 27:11, KJV, italics added). I feel sure God answered his prayer, for there are times when all of us need help and deliverance, when it is necessary for us to see where God is leading us. But most of the time God leads us along an unknown path on which we do not have the foggiest notion of where we are going. In fact, there are times when we desperately need His guidance, but it is not there. Listen to Jeremiah: “He has blocked my ways with hewn stone; He has made my paths crooked” (Lamentations 3:9). What a statement! Instead of being the God who opens my path, He blocks it; instead of leading me in a plain, understandable way, He makes my paths crooked and twisted. Is that our God?
Fortunately, yes. The fact that He blocks our way or leads us along a twisted road does not mean that He no longer sees or loves or cares. If we understood everything God was doing to us, something would be wrong. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us” (Deuteronomy 29:29). God does not explain to us His daily dealings with us; He only promises to lead us in the good and wise way, and asks that we trust Him to be true to His Word.
I must not pray for the “plain path”; I must pray for the compassing God who “searchest out my path” and is “acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139–3, ASV). The fact that He is there, with me and beside me on the path, is all I need for peace of mind and heart. I need not see Him or feel Him; His Word is good enough for both. It is when I believe that “the path of the righteous [just] … shines brighter and brighter until the full day” (Proverbs 4:18). God, give me faith for dark days and twisted paths!
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8).
Daily with the King 