My Corner Online

TWhich Way Would You Go - Bible Bits - Week 24

*First published May 1, 2010
It has been a long time since I've written a Bible Bits post. I know that people missed them as I had received requests for them. I just cannot seem to find the time to do everything I want to do. I do hope that those who enjoyed these are still hanging around reading.


My husband and I recently went on a beautiful hiking trip. Along the trail, we were suddenly confronted with a tree right in the middle of our path. I immediately knew that this would make a great Bible Bits post on choice. I sometimes marvel at how God uses His creation to speak to me.

Would hubby and I make the same choice to go the same route around the tree? Would it really matter which route we took to continue down the path? Was one way better than the other? Would I be a different person for having gone one way rather than the other?

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God presents us with choices each and every day. He already has plans for me and my life. He gives me choices not to harm me, but to give me hope and to give me a future.

I've been thinking a lot lately about insecurity. Choices and change sometimes make me insecure. I like things to stay the same. I like my path to be easy to follow. I like to come home and find my things in the same place where I put them. I like to go out to my vehicle, turn the key, and have it faithfully start. I like to turn on my favorite television show and find it has recorded correctly, rather than be delayed by a sports game. I like for my boys to be predictable. I like for my computer to come on faithfully when I hit the button. I like things to be easy and dependable. I find security in things always being the way they should be.

However, God throws trees up in my path every day. There always seems to be a daily surprise somewhere in my day that I have to deal with. What choices do I make with these surprises that may change my future? What choices do I make with these surprises that may change who I am?

Is there always a right and a wrong answer to the choices I must make?

I know that I enjoy little ditties and sayings. They sometimes help me make choices and help me be inspired to go on through difficult times.

However, these short quips sometimes are just what we want to hear, and not what we need to hear. Checking out these conflicting sayings:

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Conflicting Sayings

Actions speak louder than words./The pen is mightier than the sword.

Look before you leap./He who hesitates is lost.

Many hands make light work. (or) Two heads are better than one./Too many cooks spoil the broth.

A silent man is a wise one./A man without words is a man without thoughts.

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts./Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Clothes make the man./Don't judge a book by its cover. (or) All that glitters is not gold.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained./Better safe than sorry.

The bigger, the better./The best things come in small packages.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder./Out of sight, out of mind.

What will be, will be./Life is what you make it.

Cross your bridges when you come to them./Forewarned is forearmed.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander./One man's meat is
another man's poison.

With age comes wisdom./Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings come all wise sayings.

The more, the merrier./Two's company; three's a crowd.

The best things in life are free./ You get what you pay for.

It never rains, than it pours./Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.

Better to ask the way than to go astray./Ask no questions and hear no lies.

Never do evil, that good may come of it./The end justifies the means.

Variety is the spice of life./Don't change horses in the middle of a stream.

There is nothing permanent except change./There is nothing new under the sun.

Never too old to learn./You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Everything comes to him who waits./He who hesitates is lost.

Opposites attract./Birds of a feather flock together.

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Are any of the conflicting sayings wrong? Not necessarily. They each hold some truth to them. But which one should you follow when faced with a situation?

Only God knows.

I need to stop stressing over the trees God puts in my way. He surely puts them there to direct my way. He wants me to prosper. He wants to protect me from harm. He wants to direct me down paths of hope. He wants to lead my future.

Why am I so afraid of choices? Why do I stress so much from the obstacles in daily life? They are all a part of God's plan. If I would just trust in Him and take things in stride, this life hike might be more enjoyable.

Life is just like that tree on our hike. I went around it. I don't know which way I went around it. It didn't really matter. It just matter that I went around it and kept going.

Sometimes I get stuck making choices and do not go anywhere. I get stuck in the anxiety. I get stuck in the stress. I get stuck in the emotions. I need to just unstick myself from problems and get going! God has plans for me. God has a future for me. Why sit stressed and worried when I could be heading forward to see how He will prosper me. God is so good.

Where are you going?