Standing at the Crossroads

Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

During my senior year as a varsity football player, I broke my ankle in practice at the beginning of the season. All my hard work was gone in an instant when the doctor said that I would not be able to finish the season. In just one practice, my dream of playing college football was destroyed. I came to a crossroads, a point in life when I had to make an important decision of what direction I was going to go. As I looked to God for direction, I was surprised at what emerged. My passion for music that had been within me all along, was no longer hidden. In a few months of soul searching, a path emerged and a career in music unfolded that led me closer to God.

The prophet Jeremiah lived through one of the most turbulent times in Israel’s history that was inundated with social unrest. He saw a time when people’s ears would be closed to the voice of truth and they would not hear the Lord. In fact, the word of the Lord would be offensive to them. He saw hearts of stubbornness and rebellion, selfishness and pride. This is not unlike the season we are living in today in mid-pandemic within North America. But in the midst of this, God gave an important word to Israel to move forward in a time of uncertainty and to look for the ancient paths where the good way is, and for Israel to walk in it.

God promised that if Israel would walk in God’s way, they would find true rest for their souls. The paths would lead them in knowing and loving God and restoring their lives and their nation. Today, those ancient paths still exist and are revealed through Jesus Christ, the Bible, and the saints who have traveled this way before us. The ancient paths in Christ are the passageways that lead to rest and restoration of our souls. As we walk in the good way, we will discover God’s direction for our lives, our families, and our nation.

Jesus Christ is the good way that leads us into true life and peace in his Kingdom and where we can find rest for our souls. Ask the Lord to show you the ancient paths and to help you to walk in it. When you’re standing at a crossroads, pay attention to what God is saying, look, and ask God to show you where the good way is and then walk in it.

Prayer

Father God, we pray that during this time of uncertainty, grief, and loss that we will take time to look for the ancient paths where the good way is, to walk in it and find rest for our souls. Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who will not only lead us to lie down in green pastures, and who leads us beside quiet waters, but He has the power to restore our souls (Psalm 23).