Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
The Loire Valley in the heart of France is home to dozens of castles or châteaux as they are called in French. Some are royal châteaux where kings and queens once lived and played out the drama of their court lives. Others were owned by lower nobility. The UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizes forty-two châteaux which receive over three million visitors per year.
I am grateful to be one of those millions of visitors, having visited various châteaux on different trips over the last two years. On a recent tour of the Loire Valley, a group of us milled around chatting before dinner. On the itinerary for the next morning was a visit to one particular château. While this one is absolutely beautiful and full of history, I wasn’t particularly excited about spending time visiting it once more, despite the possibility of new photo ops. I was internally debating whether I should plan to do something else the next day instead. I felt I was in a quandary and I even prayed for God to show me what to do because, after all, He does care about ALL the details of our lives. I just happened to mention my hesitation to one of my fellow travelers. A few minutes later, another friend walked over and confidentially let me know that there was a surprise in store for tomorrow and that I would not want to miss it. That was the push I needed to stay the course.
The next morning, we headed out to the famous château and I will admit to learning more about it and getting different photos than when I visited previously. As we left the château, I wondered if our “surprise” would materialize. At that point, my decision to stay the course had put me on the bus with our guide and driver. They were in charge. All I could do was follow and participate in the adventure. When the guide announced we were in for a treat, an unscheduled destination, I was thankful I had stuck with the group. Our next stop was a château known for its beautiful Renaissance gardens. I imagined all sorts of photo opportunities awaited in just a few short minutes.
Disembarking at the Château de Villandry, I was not disappointed. Although we didn’t have time to tour the castle, we did have time to roam the varied magnificent gardens. Seeing the formal gardens at first from the overlooking terrace, I could see the hedges and topiaries trimmed so precisely. It wasn’t until I walked down the stairs to the ground below that I noticed that the hedges surrounded ornamental flowers and vegetables. I was so thankful I had decided to come on the tour that day after all. What a treat it was to see Villandry! I realized what I would have missed had I chosen to stay behind.
Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it? While we don’t know what’s up ahead, we have to trust the One in charge that He is in control and knows what’s best for us. We have to trust God to give us the wisdom to navigate the choices. Even when we think we know it all or have seen it all, there are surprises along the way if we stay the course, if we trust that God is in control.
Our key verse for today says we are to tap into and lean on God’s wisdom, not our own. When we depend on God’s wisdom in His Word and not on ourselves, God will direct our steps. He is totally trustworthy in all times, in good surprises and in heartbreaking disappointments. When we acknowledge His leadership in our lives, God will direct our paths. When we depend on Him, when we ask for His wisdom, and when we acknowledge His ways and lay our plans at His feet, He will direct our steps, one by one, along the path of life with surprises and detours with our best in mind. Trust Him today and be surprised by His goodness and love.
After praying for guidance, I stepped out in faith that God was working through my friend who had the inside scoop on our real itinerary. After experiencing a beautiful detour with lots of new photo ops, I realized that God was in control all along. When I trust Him first, He will guide my steps and make my path straight, even one within the bounds of green hedges and bright flowers hidden behind a castle.
Lord, nothing is too small to bring to You in prayer. I thank You that I can trust You with the details of my life. Help me trust You more and lean not on my own understanding but on You to guide me and make all my paths straight. Amen.
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of the Château de Villandry and its beautiful gardens, Villandry, France.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
The Loire Valley in the heart of France is home to dozens of castles or châteaux as they are called in French. Some are royal châteaux where kings and queens once lived and played out the drama of their court lives. Others were owned by lower nobility. The UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizes forty-two châteaux which receive over three million visitors per year.
I am grateful to be one of those millions of visitors, having visited various châteaux on different trips over the last two years. On a recent tour of the Loire Valley, a group of us milled around chatting before dinner. On the itinerary for the next morning was a visit to one particular château. While this one is absolutely beautiful and full of history, I wasn’t particularly excited about spending time visiting it once more, despite the possibility of new photo ops. I was internally debating whether I should plan to do something else the next day instead. I felt I was in a quandary and I even prayed for God to show me what to do because, after all, He does care about ALL the details of our lives. I just happened to mention my hesitation to one of my fellow travelers. A few minutes later, another friend walked over and confidentially let me know that there was a surprise in store for tomorrow and that I would not want to miss it. That was the push I needed to stay the course.
The next morning, we headed out to the famous château and I will admit to learning more about it and getting different photos than when I visited previously. As we left the château, I wondered if our “surprise” would materialize. At that point, my decision to stay the course had put me on the bus with our guide and driver. They were in charge. All I could do was follow and participate in the adventure. When the guide announced we were in for a treat, an unscheduled destination, I was thankful I had stuck with the group. Our next stop was a château known for its beautiful Renaissance gardens. I imagined all sorts of photo opportunities awaited in just a few short minutes.
Disembarking at the Château de Villandry, I was not disappointed. Although we didn’t have time to tour the castle, we did have time to roam the varied magnificent gardens. Seeing the formal gardens at first from the overlooking terrace, I could see the hedges and topiaries trimmed so precisely. It wasn’t until I walked down the stairs to the ground below that I noticed that the hedges surrounded ornamental flowers and vegetables. I was so thankful I had decided to come on the tour that day after all. What a treat it was to see Villandry! I realized what I would have missed had I chosen to stay behind.
Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it? While we don’t know what’s up ahead, we have to trust the One in charge that He is in control and knows what’s best for us. We have to trust God to give us the wisdom to navigate the choices. Even when we think we know it all or have seen it all, there are surprises along the way if we stay the course, if we trust that God is in control.
Our key verse for today says we are to tap into and lean on God’s wisdom, not our own. When we depend on God’s wisdom in His Word and not on ourselves, God will direct our steps. He is totally trustworthy in all times, in good surprises and in heartbreaking disappointments. When we acknowledge His leadership in our lives, God will direct our paths. When we depend on Him, when we ask for His wisdom, and when we acknowledge His ways and lay our plans at His feet, He will direct our steps, one by one, along the path of life with surprises and detours with our best in mind. Trust Him today and be surprised by His goodness and love.
After praying for guidance, I stepped out in faith that God was working through my friend who had the inside scoop on our real itinerary. After experiencing a beautiful detour with lots of new photo ops, I realized that God was in control all along. When I trust Him first, He will guide my steps and make my path straight, even one within the bounds of green hedges and bright flowers hidden behind a castle.
Lord, nothing is too small to bring to You in prayer. I thank You that I can trust You with the details of my life. Help me trust You more and lean not on my own understanding but on You to guide me and make all my paths straight. Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of the Château de Villandry and its beautiful gardens, Villandry, France.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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