Journeys bring the experience needed to live in the destination

In the coming days I’ll be doing a fair bit of travelling and it got me thinking about journeys and destinations, and the different ways of looking at them.

When it comes to the experience of travelling, there are different types of people. There are those who enjoy the journey, relishing every step along the way, and at the other end of the spectrum there are those who dislike the journey itself and relish only reaching the destination. Of course there are other people at every point between the two, and even the most seasoned journey-lover can become frustrated with the transport aspect when they find themselves hit by delays and tailbacks.

But sometimes, in travel and in life in general, we can get so focused on reaching the destination that we can miss things placed along the journey for our enjoyment or enrichment, to grow us and to build us up.

The Bible tells the story of the Israelites and the many years they spent travelling from Egypt, through the wilderness, to their Promised Land. Their journey was so long that many of them died without ever reaching what they thought would be their final destination. But does that mean their journey was in vain? That their every step was futile? No.

The journeys we find ourselves on in life can be many and varied. Sometimes we reach our intended destination easily. Sometimes we learn that, while we envisaged a certain destination, our path is actually headed in a very different direction.

But wherever we end up, there can be no denying that much of our life experience and learning happen on the journey rather than at the destination. Our journeys shape us into the people we need to be to live in the destinations we ultimately reach.

Often our journeys can be challenging. Life’s paths can be rocky and steep, full of places where we can stumble and struggle, facing pain and heartache. But we don’t need to walk them alone.

The Bible is full of promises from God of how He will walk along and guide the journeys of all those who put their hope and trust in Him.

Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5-6, says, “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.”

Psalm 23, verse 4, says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

And Psalm 119, verse 105, says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Accepting God into your life and trusting Him to lead you as your ultimate Father won’t mean that at the click of your fingers the path of your life will become smooth and lined with sweet-scented roses, but it will mean that you are never alone through any of the trials and challenges that the rocky path of life can bring.

Jeremiah chapter 29, verse 11, says, “‘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.'”

All you have to do is trust God with your life and your future.

Sarah Moore is the author of For the Love of Lentil, A journey of longing, loss and abundant grace, which tells the story of her experience of pregnancy and miscarriage. Copies of the book are available here.