The Sign You’re Looking for Is Closer Than You Think

Have you ever missed a sign, and it’s left you confused, frustrated, and lost?

I have. It happens, for instance, when I navigate for a particular son on road trips on a route he isn’t entirely familiar with.

I forget he doesn’t know the way, and he forgets to watch the signs and/or ask. We find ourselves in some interesting places. 

Like the time when we went right when we should have veered left and ended up traveling through Wisconsin on our way back to Iowa from Illinois. No, for those of you who aren’t familiar with the Midwest, that is most definitely not the quickest way!

Or the time we stayed straight instead of exiting onto another interstate highway and wound up a couple hours south of the route we wanted.

For both trips the signs were there; we simply became distracted and missed them. An occurrence that unfortunately is not isolated to driving.

Distracted and Forgetful

We do it in our daily life as well. We get distracted and forget that 

◊ we are dearly loved 

◊ we have been given the wisdom and guidance to know our next step

◊ are never left without hope, no matter how messy our mess is

◊ as long as we have breath, we have purpose

◊ this is not our home; there’s something far better

We forget that we’ve already been provided with all the direction and assurance we need for any situation. It begins (and ends) with God! 

We've been provided with all the direction & assurance we need for any situation. It begins (and ends) with God! Share on X

The Sign We’re Looking For

God gives us the markers to live life well:

*the words of Life in the Bible and the evidence of Jesus and His death and resurrection to assuage our concerns for the future

*His promises and our past experiences that demonstrate His faithfulness to see us through any mess

*love: love from others that came first and perfectly from Him

*the law to guide us in upright conduct and His Holy Spirit to prompt us in the way of our next step

*the whole of creation to evidence His sovereignty, creativity, majesty, power, and even His delight in us (and I think His sense of humor too — I mean just look at some of the critters He created!)

*His Word to reveal to us our purpose — to love and serve Him — and the needs of a broken world to further assure us there is a need for our prayers, support and love. Each one of us has a purpose to serve, love, and glorify God by serving and loving the hurt and lost around us

Each one of us has a purpose to serve, love, and glorify God by serving and loving the hurt and lost around us. Share on X

God is the sign we’re looking for in our journey, and He’s given us all the markers we need as we travel.

That’s not to say He has revealed His whole detailed plan for each of our lives. But we have enough guidance to move confidently forward. And we can rest assured that His grace will be sufficient for the future we don’t know.

When we begin to feel lost or ill prepared it’s because we have become distracted from Him and forgot to take note of one of His markers. 

Abide and Seek

If my son and I would quit getting distracted on our road trips, we wouldn’t get lost. I guess the same is true when we long for direction and guidance and hope in our daily lives.

God’s already provided what we need to know for how we should live, which direction to journey, and why we can have hope and live out a life of purpose.

But that guidance is only helpful if we take note of it by abiding in Him and seeking His wisdom.

God has given us guidance for our lives, but we must take note of it by abiding in Him and seeking His wisdom. Share on X

Today, ask God to open up your senses to the signs He’s posted in your world. Be encouraged, guided and hope filled. We have every reason to be and the evidence to boot.

He reveals Himself and, yes, His will for us in many ways. But it boils down to one thing, being open to receiving it from Him. 

God has revealed Himself and His will for us in many ways. But we must be open to receiving it from Him. Share on X

“From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. ²⁷ He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.²⁸ For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.'” Acts 17:26-28

Reflections: What sign are you wanting from God? Could it be it’s already been revealed and you were too distracted to notice? 

I am always thrilled to link up with Suzie Eller for #livefreeThursday and this week’s prompt, “When I think I need a sign.” Click on the image to check out the wonderful encouragement.