The other morning, I went out early to my vehicle. It was still dark, and I had failed to
turn on any exterior lights to illuminate the way. Two things happened on that brief back-
and-forth trip. First, I stumbled (didn’t fall!) when I inadvertently stepped on the edge of
the driveway. Next, I heard a sound that startled me, primarily because I could not
place it. After a brief investigation (and with the help of the interior lights of my vehicle), I
discovered that it was a dry leaf that had become attached to my shoe and was
scraping along the concrete driveway as I walked. That unrecognizable sound frightened
me far more than it should have.
In short, because no light was present, my foundation was unsteady, and my way unsure.
The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to
my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s word, the poet attests, is our
foundation and our direction. Being embedded in God’s word not only means that we stand
on firm ground, but also that we are able to see the way in which God intends us to go.
When we immerse ourselves in God’s word, we enjoy a solid present and a hopeful future.
His word is surely the lamp that establishes our feet, and the light that shows us the right
path. This is true even—especially—in a world where change and uncertainty swirl
continually around us.
This is true even when things look dark and foreboding, when the
ground appears unsteady, and when unrecognizable voices try to instill in us fear.
God’s word is the light that guides us and secures us. Even in our volatile world.
–Ricky