Bouncing Along the Twists and Curves of the Christian Life
Are you usually looking for the straight path to your destination? Even in your walk with the Lord, are you expecting the road to be pretty direct and straight? I’m not sure about your perspective (please leave your thoughts below) but I’ve expected the pathway that I walked with God to be pretty direct. Of course I realized that it wasn’t always smooth or trouble free, but I thought it would be straight.
Last Sunday, my eyes were opened to a new concept while listening to our Pastor’s Sunday teaching. He began with a phrase that stuck with me all week and presented a new revelation about that path. He said, “The Christian life isn’t a straight line but a beautiful switchback declaring the Glory of God.” Pastor Jeff, our senior pastor used this in connection with the book of Ruth which we have been examining throughout the month.
Naomi’s life was anything but a straight path to the final redemption portrayed through Boaz and Ruth’s relationship. Besides being filled with potholes, her life took many twists and turns that produced hardship and loss. Leaving Israel with her husband and sons because of a famine, they settled in the pagan land of Moab–the land of plenty. There her husband, Elimelech, died and her two sons married Moabite women. Not exactly God’s direction for the Israelites.
At times, we make the same type of decisions. Decisions which seem to make sense. Decisions which seem like they will lead us on a straight and direct path for us or our families. But what seems straight in our eyes often turns crooked. I remember the morning I got a late start in getting my son to school. (I have a bad habit of cutting time too close.) In order to make up for my delay and attempt to get my son in before the tardy bell rang, I decided to take a short cut. I whipped through a residential neighborhood where everyone would still be in their homes, I thought. I exceeded the speed limit (against God’s directions), saw an angry homeowner shaking her fist at me as I swerved around the bend, and then the blinking lights glowed in my rear view mirror. My son did not make it to school on time that day.
My road took a crooked bend much like Naomi’s. But not all crooked bends are caused by our own actions. Curves and trials, not of our own making, tumble into our lives. Through it all though, God is still leading us, providing for us, and redeeming us.
When Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem, they were welcomed by friends. When the women called her Naomi, she said, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Lord has dealt bitterly with me. Naomi remembered her husband had a relative, Boaz, who owned barley fields. Ruth asked Naomi to let her go glean from those fields to provide food for them. Later, through some conniving on Naomi’s part, Boaz welcomed Ruth to be his wife. Ruth bore a son for Boaz and He was named Obed. The joyous women of the village said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!” Ruth’s son was viewed ad Naomi’s redeemer from all of her troubles. This Scripture points to the ultimate Redeemer. Obed fathered Jesse who became the father of David. And from David’s line came Our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Our stories in life take twists and turns. Sometimes, it feels like we’ve slid to the edge, gripping on with all of our might. Then the road levels out and we rest alongside a life-giving stream growing tall trees that provide shade until the next hairpin turn. But in the end, Our Redeemer still holds us to Himself. And through Jesus’ life-giving blood, we have hope along the rocky, crooked switchbacks of life.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
Linking with Mary Geisen #TellHisStory linkup
Can you imagine if your parents never took you on any challenging adventures? Just straight, safe, uneventful paths?
God’s switchback path for each of us is much more scenic and precious than a straight dash through life.
This is a great lesson to understand how God leads us through trials that develop our character.
Honey,
Thank you for your insight and depth you brought here. I think we’d all like a path without the trials but with the character development. That’s not a reality. Side trips are fun when we’re out sightseeing but not when we want to make it quickly to our destination. But this makes me recall the crazy drives you took with our toddler in the car, asking him which way to turn. His smart mind picked up that he could tell you a different direction and make the trip more fun!
From My Heart to Yours Always,
Janis
When I think of a switchback road, I think of hiking up a mountain, traversing back and forth as you climb. Even though it is steep to climb, the switchback road makes it easier to reach the top!! As the Lord leads us on our Life journey, He is there at every switchback turn, growing us and leading us as we climb up the Mountain of Life. Thank you Janis for these encouraging thoughts! -Ceal-
Cecelia, you have added such wisdom and insight to this post. Traversing the switchback trail does make it easier to climb the mountain. As I wrote the story, I thought about the allegory of “Little Miss Much Afraid” in Hannah Whitall Smith’s book, “Hinds Feet in High Places.” Sometimes the view is beautiful and the scenery is gorgeous but then we hit clouds and slippery gravel sending us into a rash of anxiety. We have forgotten what the Good Shepherd has already accomplished for us. That’s me too often. Love you, friend.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
I love this post because we all need to know we’re not alone in navigating bumpy, messy, rocky & sometimes pothole filled paths. I love that the Word talks about strengthening our ankles. This Word hit home so much that I find myself praying that for myself, my family & my precious brothers & sisters in Christ.
Strengthen our ankles Lord as we walk on this path You have us on! In the mighty name of Jesus, amen!
Marcy,thank you for stopping by! We definitely need strong ankles to walk on the rocky paths of life. It reminds me of hikers who often twist their ankles as they traverse the narrow downhill paths through evergreen forests. A sprained ankle delays the hiker not only for the duration of that hike but for future climbs.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
The twists and turns of life are sometimes scary and other times exciting. I can’t even begin to imagine traveling life’s road without God.
Blessings to you and yours!
Marie
Thank you, Marie, for your wise experience. Going down the twists and turns of life without God would definitely be worse than scary. Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you stop in again.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
I think many times we might not understand the twists and turns in our life that the Lord has directed until we are able to look back and see how “life” intervened in our plans!
Hi Patti, your comments are so true! While on that crooked path all we can see is the difficulty and inconvenience. But looking back, we see how “life”-our God intervened in our plans. Thank you for your words of wisdom and for stopping by today.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
Years ago I wrote a story called “Letters to Moab.” It was a collection of letters Ruth wrote back to her sister-in-law, Orpah, journaling her thoughts throughout the trip and then arrival to Bethlehem with Naomi. I wondered what her adjustment would have been like. I was living in Mexico at the time, feeling very much the foreigner, learning new customs and culture, hoping for acceptance. Now I am older, a grandmother, and my perspective would probably be through Naomi’s eyes! It’s been interesting to see how the same Bible stories take on new meaning twenty or thirty or forty years later.
Sometimes we can drive smoothly along roads that others have laid, with signs and maps to help us along the way. But some of the most breathtaking of places can’t be reached on wheels. Two feet required. A good walking stick is helpful. And a travel Companion Who is right there with us as we maneuver around rocks, fallen logs, and hidden holes. Thank you, Janis, for sharing your insights about the twists and curves of the Christian life.
Carol, How interesting that you wrote a story about Ruth’s feelings and her communications to her sister-in-law in Moab. What a great application of Scripture to understand how Ruth might have felt in that situation. And, now to look at it from your perspective as a grandmother in the Naomi phase. By, the way, that would make a great God’s Fingerprint story (smile). I love how you described that journey on foot and the support we would need–a walking stick and knowledgeable Companion. Brilliant! Thank you for stopping by today.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
Thank you, Janis. Your wisdom helps me move forward in so many ways. At this time in the world it is hard to find any straight roads. We just need to keep moving along with God’s grace to lead us along that twisting path of life. Only He can guide me, nourish me, on these difficult roads. But He does! Praise God for His loving guidance, and for His blessing of friends who help us follow His way.
Marie, it’s always a blessing to hear from you! I’m glad this post encouraged you to keep moving down those twisting paths of life. You’re wise in saying that
the only way we can make it down those paths is with His guidance.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
Hello Janis! I’m visiting from flowingfaith.com! You dropped by a while ago and somehow I had missed your comment! So good to reconnect! I hope you are your are all doing fine. Blessings upon blessings!
Hi Mari-Anna Stalnacke, it’s so good to see you again! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. We’ll have to stay in touch.
Blessings upon you, Mari-Anna!!!
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis