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The Unfamiliar Path

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16 

The unfamiliar path. Some face it with excitement, anticipation kindled by the prospect of discovery. Many dare not tread upon it. They fear what they do not know.

Fear does strange things to us. It turns sound thinking into irrational folly. It can cause us to make destructive choices. It robs us of peace.

Fear of the unknown is no different. Consider the abused woman who chooses to remain with her abuser. At least with him she knows what to expect. The lure of freedom offers her no such security. She cannot see how she can survive on her own. So she chooses familiarity over uncertainty, even at great cost.

Have you imprisoned yourself within the boundaries of the familiar? What will it cost you?

We serve a God who specializes in surpassing what we can conceive (1 Corinthians 2:9). That’s what makes pursuing His will so glorious; it’s so much better than ours.

Christ offers a way to overcome our fear and discover the extraordinary. He has come to empower each of us to leave our dark burdens and step into the light of freedom. But like the abused woman who is too afraid to change her circumstances, we often fight Him because of our fear. We prefer the comfort of the familiar over the uncertainty of a new path.

When we allow fear to stop us from stepping into God’s promises, we ignore a fundamental truth: God is love (1 John 4:16). He doesn’t just possess love; He is love. And because God’s love is not just a feeling but rather who He is, He cannot take action without demonstrating it. He will always display His love through what He does.

That truth, dear one, applies to you. God will pour out His love for you through every action He takes in your life. And because His love is perfect and unfailing, it holds the power to overcome your fear.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Your loving God beckons you down a path to freedom. Though the trail is unfamiliar, it remains certain. God’s presence removes your fear of the unknown from the equation. The outcome of this path is sure. He will prosper you as you walk along it. What’s more, you will never travel His path alone.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord, your God, will never forsake you. His promises are true. You have no need to fear. He will lead you on the path to freedom and glory. He will go before you to prepare the way, and He will remain with you to guard your feet from stumbling. He will also pick you up when you succumb to fear and doubt and fall. You will discover the wondrous beauty of His perfect love.

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

I have stood at the edge of the unfamiliar path and chosen to trust my Jesus. As I have walked with Him, He has kept His promises, proving Himself faithful and true. He has shown me my blindness and empowered me to see. When I have stumbled in the darkness, He has cast His light so I would know where to step. He has never left me, and I am certain He never will.

How am I so certain, dear one?  I gave Him the opportunity to prove Himself.

Oh, the glory of perfect love. You will never know it until you choose to trust it.

The enemy of your soul would have you fear the unfamiliar path. He knows that as you walk down it he will lose his stranglehold upon your heart. His power lies in fear, doubt, and deception. Allow Christ’s perfect love to cast out your fear, beloved. Join Jesus on the path to glory!