It’s You

“O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.” —Psalm 43:3

The cry of my heart is that God would lead me.

I confess that not only do I not know where I am going, I don’t really know where I should go. And if I’m honest, I don’t know where I want to go.

I learned years ago that God’s plans are not my plans. His plan is always better.

For example, there was a time as a young adult when I would have told you that I was going to be a professional musician. Music would define the rest of my life. I played in bands. I practiced diligently. I was on my way…

During that time, I volunteered with my church’s youth group. It was fun. I felt like I was helping a little. Teenagers seemed to respond to me. But if you had suggested that I pursue that as a vocation, I would have laughed in your face.

Yet that is exactly where I wound up—a Youth Director at a local church. I backed into the role. I wasn’t looking for it. But I soon discovered that I absolutely loved it. I told my friends that the church was paying me to do the only job in the world I would have done for free.

I experienced a level of personal fulfillment that I had not known before. And I learned that God had prepared me to be effective in that role.

That experience taught me that God knows me better than I know myself. Since He made me, only He truly knows what I will ultimately find satisfying. Only He knows what He has planned for my future; so only He knows how to prepare me for it.

So today, I pray, “Lead me.”

Today’s verse shines a brighter light on this “leading:”

“Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.” —Psalm 43:3

The Psalmist’s prayer is essentially, “Lead me to You.”

It’s difficult to think in terms of eternity, but that’s where so many Psalms lead.

I tend to pray only about the future that I can see. Or on good days, the future that is just beyond my view. But God is not limited to my view. He sees the whole picture—beginning, middle, and eternal future.

Could it be that all of these seemingly unanswered prayers have already been answered within His view?

After all, His goal for me stretches so far beyond anything that I can imagine. I pray for “things.” Results. Answers that I can hold. Visualize.

But His goal for me is Him!

If I want to find lasting peace, I must align my goals with His. I know this means offering my goals and dreams as a sacrifice on His altar. It means my life probably won’t turn out the way I’ve envisioned.

But I lack the capacity to see the future God has planned.

Just as He led me from chasing a musical career, He has redirected me repeatedly throughout my life. Each change in direction has worked to lead me closer to Him. I’ve learned to trust His plan—because His plan is perfect.

The Psalmist prays that God will lead him to God Himself.

So today, I start a new prayer.

“Lord, lead me to You.”