When the Road of Life gets Scary

We won't often go very far in life without encountering a patch of road that
is somewhat scary.

Unless, of course, we choose to stay off the roads and paths of life
altogether. Some people do that. They avoid all conflicts in life by
parking themselves in front of a TV, a computer, or some other private
diversion, keeping to the shadows. They may not even work outside the home,
if possible, so that they can remain hidden, protected from the pains and
difficulties that others must endure.

But I'm talking here about most of us. We are traveling down the road of
life, taking the path we believe we should be on. We are trying to make some
progress, and like Bunyan's Pilgrim ("Christian," by name) we face many
kinds of obstacles, some difficulties, and not a few seeming opportunities
along the way.

At times the path or road of life is scary, when we cannot see clearly what
waits ahead of us. The way is slippery and dark, and it may even descend
downward into deeper shadows (that much we can see!). The path is made even
darker and more dangerous by thickly grown trees and vines and briars that
threaten to pull and tear at anyone who ventures ahead. The way twists and
turns and narrows ahead, and the ground is very rough, pitted with holes and
broken by large stones on which our feet are sure to stumble.

That much we can see. And we are right to be concerned. Who would be eager
to advance into such a place? We wonder if we should not try to find another
route or maybe even turn back. We fear for our own safety and for the
well-being of those who must travel life's road with us.

Sometimes such a stretch only continues for a small distance. And so we may
take a deep breath and, holding it in, simply rush ahead, hoping to get
through it and past it before anything terrible can happen. At other times
we can plainly see that the darkness and danger will continue for a very
long way. And we worry then that if we go down that path we may never come
out on the other side.

Our dread of such a dark path is not in vain. If we were to travel down into
and through such valleys alone, we would likely fall into some pit or be
pulled and torn by an overreaching briar or even forced off the path
altogether by tangles of fallen trees, black and rotting in the way.

Thankfully, we do not travel alone. Followers of Jesus, we are where we
belong (no matter how dark the way), when we walk in the footsteps of the
Lord of Light.

Remember what Jesus said? "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me
will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (John 8:12,
NRSV)

The way around us can be totally dark, yet the way before us will have light
when we follow Jesus. He is perfect light and absolute truth.

The psalmist of Psalm 119 said as much when he wrote to the Lord, "Thy word
is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105, KJV)

Even though I am a Christian believer, and have known Christ for many years,
I find that I still don't know the answers to many of life's questions, and
I still face places and stretches in my life that are dark and threatening.
I simply cannot see into the future, and it's difficult, at times, for me to
know what choices to make.

Which way should I go, and what should I do? In the thick black darkness of
this valley or that long night, I simply can't always tell which is the real
path and which is the way that may lead straight into the enemy's lair.I
find that I need the words and instructions of the Lord Jesus to guide me.

I need the Word of God to direct my steps. I need the warnings to meditate
on and the promises to trust in.

I am again reminded of the psalmist of Psalm 119. He understood the
difficulties of life and the confusion of dark times. He wrote, "I treasure
your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11,
NRSV)

God did not give us His Son in vain. He offers His Son to every human soul
who longs for truth and rescue and eternal life.

Likewise, He has not given His message in vain but for a reason. God gives
us the Book of Holy Scripture