“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 (NIV)

Over the years my husband has owned several different vehicles. One of his favorites is a four-wheel drive Jeep Wrangler. A fun thing for us to do is to take a drive in the mountains and occasionally find an off road trail to explore.

We have one of those maps that show off road trails so we use it to seek out an adventure. Looking at all of those squiggly lines that highlight various paths, it is difficult to anticipate what to expect. We have no idea what type of terrain we will encounter. Will it be rough or smooth, steep or flat, rocky or muddy, narrow or wide? You get the picture.

So we blindly choose a path. Sometimes we choose wisely and sometimes we choose poorly. 

Over the years, we (O.K. – I) have become more cautious in choosing a path that is just right. Adventurous enough for my husband and smooth enough for me. 

On these journeys we find the time and rest we need to reconnect with nature and each other.

While in some remote locations, it is not unusual to find ourselves at a crossroad trying to decide which way to go. We look ahead just enough to see that someone else has forged a path clear enough to navigate before deciding which way to go. The assurance that someone else has traveled this way too gives us the confidence to move forward. 

It is when there is no clear path that we (OK – I, again) become anxious and worried. At that point for me, it is clearly time to turn back.

Our journey in life is a lot like being off road. In the best situations, the path may be rocky enough to be exciting yet clear enough to navigate. We also come to many different crossroads on the adventure. To find the right path you don’t have to look very far. Look to your road map – The Bible – and find the signs that lead you in the right direction toward rest and peace of mind in the Lord.  

Just like my off road map and those squiggly lines, the pathway before us may seem unclear. It may be smooth or rough, steep or flat, rocky or muddy, narrow or wide. You just never know until you start in that direction. When you get to the point that you find there is no clear path, you can always turn back to stay on course. 

So grab your map and be adventurous – Go off road with God. Take this interesting journey – called life – with the confidence and security that you always know the way back home.