As humans, our vision is limited. We can only see part of the path at a time. What feels stable to us may not be level at all. What looks like forward movement can still lead us off balance. When we rely only on what is visible, uncertainty often follows.

That is why Scripture so often connects walking with trust. God does not simply show us the destination. He teaches us how to walk. He leads us with steady reassurance. He clears the path of dangers we cannot see.

David’s prayer captures that dependence so clearly:

“Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD; I flee to You for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.” (Psalm 143:8–11)

The imagery of a clear path is not accidental. Throughout Scripture, the picture of straight paths and level ground signifies something prepared in advance and made secure before our journey begins. A level path is not always easy, but it is secure. Level ground holds us steady even when our vision is limited and the next step is unclear.

Isaiah speaks of royal preparation in Isaiah 40:3–4: “Prepare the way of the LORD… make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” In the ancient world, preparing the king’s highway was not about aesthetics. The construction served a structural purpose. Roads were leveled, curves were straightened, and obstacles were cleared to make safe passage for the king. The road itself reflected the honor of the one who would walk it.

When John the Baptist later quoted that passage in John 1:23, he was announcing the arrival of the King. The leveling was not about convenience, but about the presence of God. The imagery of the King’s Highway took on new meaning as level ground announced divine arrival.

When we place our trust in God, we are not promised full visibility, but faithful guidance. He leads us where we could not safely go on our own. He prepares the way before us, walks beside us, and surrounds us with His protection. In Scripture, level ground often accompanies divine arrival. The same Lord who lowers mountains and lifts valleys has already seen the terrain ahead. What feels uncertain to us is not unseen by Him.

A level path is not for independence, but for escort, an invitation from God to walk with Him. He breaks down the mountains of pride, raises the valleys of despair, and removes stumbling blocks from the path. We walk in quiet confidence, knowing the road is under the King’s authority and that He walks with us.

Our Christian life is the same. Growth occurs with intention and diligence. Simply “going to church” is not enough to keep the weeds out. Neither is keeping busy with “good activities for the church.” In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis explores the world and logic of demons. Through Screwtape’s advice to his nephew, Wormwood, Lewis shows how distraction can draw the “patient” away from what matters. When we fill our days with activity and noise—even good things—but neglect to spend time in prayer and Bible study, we are letting the weeds grow. When we fill our days with appointments, chores, and work without being still, the weeds spread.

When God gave the Israelites the Law, He said, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). This indicates an ongoing conversation! When we get to the prophets, generations later, we see what happens when God’s people repeatedly fail to listen to His Word. Israel let the weeds take over the garden. A faithful remnant remained, but much of the nation had allowed idolatry and sin to choke out obedience to God. In other words, the people of Israel refused to listen to the Word of God, preferring the noise of idolatry and sinful living.

It’s much easier to say, “I don’t believe that way anymore,” than it is to admit wrongdoing. Ezekiel was specifically told that the people of Israel would not listen to him because they were unwilling to listen to God (Ezekiel 3:7). Throughout the prophets, we repeatedly see God’s warnings alongside His promises of what would come for those who returned to Him and those who refused.

Which soil are you? What are you cultivating?

Rebellion, Judgment, and Deliverance

Throughout the Old Testament, a pattern of rebellion, judgment, and deliverance emerges. The people do well for a time, then begin doing what is right in their own eyes. God sends judgment, and they face the consequences of their rebellion. They cry out for God’s mercy and redemption, and He delivers them. This cycle repeats so often that reading it can make you dizzy, until you recognize that people today are not any different. How many times do we make the same mistakes over and over? How often do we allow ourselves to fall away and make excuses? Then, when we see the chaos of consequence, we cry out for help.

Even if we don’t see a miraculous intervention, we can still see God at work through His Word, His church, and the unexpected ways He provides. He has given us His Word to provide guidance and wisdom. He has given us the church to help meet our needs. Oftentimes, we call out as a last option after trying to solve the problem on our own. As one of my favorite quotes reminds us, “Prayer is a first response, not a last resort.” Be a first responder.

As we read the Word of God, two simple words often change the course of circumstances: BUT GOD. Here are just a few examples:

But God remembered Noah… (Genesis 8:1). All the people of the earth were wicked, with thoughts that were altogether evil all the time, except for Noah. God preserved humanity through Noah and his family, giving the world a new beginning.

But God meant it for good… (Genesis 50:20). Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, and he became the second most powerful man in Egypt. In their jealousy, they wanted to hurt and punish Joseph, but God used the circumstance to bring salvation.

But God led the people… (Exodus 13:18). When the Israelites fled Egypt and the armies of Pharaoh, God deliberately led them through the wilderness, even though going through Philistia would have been nearer, using that time to prepare them for what lay ahead.

BUT GOD will ransom my soul (Psalm 49:15) and strike the heads of my enemies (Psalm 68:21) because He is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).

But God raised Him from the dead (Acts 13:30). As Paul recounts the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, he emphasizes the power and providence of God. Not only that, but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Paul also writes, “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!” (Ephesians 2:4–5).

A Choice, a Change, and a Challenge

Through the Gospels, Jesus teaches the disciples how to live and share God’s love with all people. Through the book of Acts, we learn how to become a part of the church. Through the letters, we gain instruction and encouragement.

In each of these teachings, we have a choice to make: continue living as “dead in our trespasses” OR “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1) to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). The choice to change your life and follow Christ includes significant challenges, specifically living contrary to the world.

Jesus offers all people a choice. Each chooses whether or not to make the changes necessary to follow Him. Repentance means to turn from sin, agreeing with God that sin is sin, and leaving that lifestyle behind. This change will come with challenges, but He gives us all we need, provides a way out, and works the circumstances for good, according to His purpose. We may not always see the good, certainly not in the moment, but we can walk in Hope and trust that God does not change.

Sometimes, though, a verse displayed by itself bothers me. The verse isn’t wrong. The problem is that the verse is separated from its context and can be easily manipulated by others.

One morning’s verse fell into such a category:

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:4)

If someone reads only that verse, they might think delighting in God means He will give them whatever they want. Such a belief can easily feed into prosperity-gospel teaching.

Taking any single verse out of context can lead to false conclusions.

The Rest of the Story

The entire Psalm contrasts those who follow God and those who do evil. The opening verses tell God’s people not to fret because of evildoers, but to trust in the Lord and do good.

This Psalm repeatedly encourages the faithful to wait on the Lord without worry. While we wait, we trust, obey, and do good.

Psalm 37:4 isn’t a blank check for everything our hearts desire. It sits in the middle of a Psalm about trusting God, committing our way to Him, waiting for Him, and living faithfully.

The Sum of Its Parts

Humans added chapter and verse distinctions to help us locate passages more easily. While I appreciate this feature, isolating single verses without learning the context or applying the whole message makes about as much sense as giving someone flour, sugar, butter, and eggs and calling it cake.

The Bible isn’t a mystery; it’s the greatest love story in history, meant to be read, studied, and lived.

The next time you see a “verse of the day,” don’t stop with the verse. Read what comes before and after it. Find out who is speaking, who is listening, and what is actually being said. Then apply the Word in your daily life.

In hide-and-seek, the seeker doesn’t stand still waiting for the hiders to show themselves. The seeker looks in every nook and cranny, obvious or improbable. An entire industry of games requires the player to find hidden objects or words. We will spend our time looking for Waldo or searching for the hidden picture at the doctor’s office.

Why, then, do we not diligently seek God?

We feel contentment sitting in a pew, listening to Christian music, and reading a verse of the day. We feel at peace accepting vague principles of truth. We feel good when we “go to church” or help others. Those things may be good, but simply being around the things of God is not the same as diligently seeking Him.

Scripture repeatedly connects seeking God with an intentional pursuit of Him. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Seeking God is not passive. Your pursuit of God is an intentional, deliberate, active search for truth. Sitting in the pew, listening to words, simply reading the Bible, or repeating spiritual mantras does not equate to seeking God and knowing Him. Seeking God is studying those words, acting on them, and believing them. The Word is alive and capable of transforming our lives, but only if we know the Word and the Writer.

How often in the Old Testament did the Israelites cry out, hopeless? At least as many times as they were told to return to God. How often in the New Testament did the first Christians face dire consequences for their faith? At least as many times as they were told to stand firm.

How often are we content with the bare minimum, the milk of Scripture, the icing of truth?

The words written to them still encourage us today. Our circumstances may look very different, but the living Word still speaks into our lives. Attending worship allows us to build relationships with and encourage other believers, to celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ through the Lord’s Supper, to sing to one another, to give as we’ve been blessed, and to hear and study the Word.

Worship was never intended to make us passive observers of faith. Neither was the rest of the Christian life. If we want to know God, we must seek Him.

The assembly is like a training exercise, though it should not be the only place we develop our skills for battle. The soldier of Christ needs to examine what is taught, dedicate time to the study of the Word, and question anything that does not agree with Scripture.

The soldier does not—or should not—only do Physical Training (PT) with the unit at Dark Thirty, but also after hours and on holidays to keep the body battle-ready. Soldiers have a “battle buddy” and often remain connected and accountable to one another even after the danger of deployment is over.

Our spiritual training requires the same kind of intentional preparation and connection.

You would not walk through enemy territory without battle rattle. We cannot be prepared for the spiritual warfare going on around us if we do not have the right equipment. You would not go into battle without first being trained. You would not stand on the front lines without an adequate weapon.

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). A sword does little good in the hands of someone who has never learned how to use it.

Be battle-ready in all seasons. The enemy prowls like a lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Learn so that you may teach others, helping them escape from the Enemy’s snares (2 Timothy 2:25–26).

Knowing God’s Word cannot be limited to what we hear during an assembly. Open your Bible. Study it seriously. Test what you hear against Scripture. Sharpen your sword, put on the full armor of God, and be prepared to stand firm.

David wrote Psalm 34 after fleeing from King Saul. He took refuge in Gath, the city of his enemy, the Philistines. Fear forced him to pretend insanity so he could escape with his life. Shame and danger surrounded him. In that dark place, he wrote words of praise and hope.

That context changes the way I read his opening words. David does not praise God because everything is going well. He declares, “I will praise the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).

Never Cease Praying or Praising

Only the LORD is worthy of praise. Only the LORD’s work is great enough to boastfully proclaim. Throughout this psalm, David repeatedly mentions crying out to God and God responding. The LORD frees, saves, surrounds, defends, watches, and rescues those who call to Him for help.

David’s words in Psalm 34 teach us that seeking the Lord is never wasted effort. He hears, He answers, and He delivers.

Radiant Even in the Fight

Psalm 34:5 says, “Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.”

The phrase “radiant with joy” became my mission statement, a theme that runs through everything I share.

David certainly was not denying his circumstances. He declared that those who look to God will be radiant, even while still in the fight.

Being radiant with joy is not surface-level happiness or a fleeting moment. It is a deep, unshakable glow that comes from being in the presence of the Lord. We face trials with confidence that God is in control and His goodness is unchanging.

Circumstances can shake us deeply, but they do not have the final authority over the joy God gives. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, a gift from God. It is present even in times of grief and loss, hardship and despair, loneliness, and anxiety. Joy keeps us going when we feel too burdened to move. It fuels our hope and drives us toward good works.

Developing a joy-filled mindset takes intentional focus. It is more than repeating mantras or forcing a smile. It is an intentional choice to live in God’s truth with purpose and perseverance.

Taste and See

In the middle of these reminders comes an invitation:

“Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8).

I have lived in the reality of the words of Psalm 34, and they continue to invite me to trust God more deeply. I’ve tasted and seen His goodness in both the big, life-changing moments and the quiet, ordinary ones. My story, my struggles, and my victories all point back to this truth: those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. I want to pass that goodness on to others.

Choose How You Live

Psalm 34 moves from what we believe about God to how we choose to live, as David asks who desires life and then gives practical instruction:

Do not speak evil.
Do not lie.
Turn from evil.
Do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

Close to the Brokenhearted

This psalm brings such peace. Often, when going through the valleys of life, people believe God has left them. Psalm 34 says otherwise:

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:18–19).

The safest harbor is the one belonging to God.

He Hears, He Delivers, He Redeems

A pattern runs through the entire psalm: He hears our prayers. He delivers us. He redeems us.

Justice does not always happen in human ways or according to human timelines, but God remains faithful. Psalm 34 ends with another promise:

“The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned” (Psalm 34:22).

Years ago, my prayer was that others might learn from and enjoy this psalm of David as much as I did. Since then, these words have become much more than an interesting passage to study. They have followed me through different seasons of life and continued to invite me to trust God more deeply.

I have tasted His goodness. I have seen His faithfulness.

We all go through seasons and stages in life. Some seasons we experience many times. Others we may only observe in those around us. It is important to prepare for all seasons, even the ones we want to avoid.

Winter – Israel faces famine. Naomi’s husband and two sons die. She is left alone with her daughters-in-law. When she hears that the Lord has come to the aid of Israel, she prepares to return home, and they prepare to go with her. Naomi does not wish for them to continue to live in grief and encourages them to go back to their own homes, find new husbands, and live full lives. One complies. Ruth, however, remains devoted to Naomi, declaring allegiance not only to Naomi but also to the God of Israel (Ruth 1:16–18). Even as Naomi declares her friends should call her Mara (meaning “bitterness”), the lives of these two women are about to change drastically for the better.

Spring – Ruth begins gleaning in the fields to provide for Naomi and herself. The field she finds belongs to Boaz, who happens to be a relative of Naomi’s husband. Boaz shows kindness and protection to Ruth, and Ruth returns the same kindness through obedience and respect. Naomi tells Ruth how to go about asking Boaz to fulfill his role as kinsman-redeemer, basically encouraging her daughter-in-law to propose marriage! Ruth continues in steadfast obedience and follows Naomi’s directions.

Summer – Boaz, though surprised, accepts Ruth’s proposal. However, there is the glitch that a closer kinsman-redeemer would have first “dibs.” Boaz approaches the relative in the presence of the elders, and the relative relinquishes his claim. Ruth and Boaz marry, and the people rejoice and pronounce blessings over their union.

Autumn – An aged Naomi holds her grandson, who is the grandfather of a future king. The end of this book is a perfect segue into the coming changes as Israel demands a king.

Other observations: I noted previously that Rahab is included in the genealogy of Christ. What I didn’t mention in that post is that she is listed as the mother of Boaz. I became very curious about this, as Matthew’s Gospel is the only place this is mentioned. Biblical genealogies do not always include every generation, so the genealogy should not necessarily be read as a complete chronology. I think the point of the Word is simply that God can use ANYONE to bring about His will, including a foreigner who used to be a prostitute and a foreigner who was a Moabite. Despite their backgrounds, both of these women are in the direct lineage of Christ.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed in my current season of life, but I am thankful for the examples of women in the Bible, as well as women in my own life, from whom I can glean wisdom and lean on for support.

1. The people of God fall away (apostasy), rejecting God’s commands, each person doing what is right in his/her own eyes.
2. They face oppression, persecution, and even captivity in later times.
3. They cry out to God in their distress, confessing their wrongdoing, and longing for forgiveness.
4. Finally, God sends deliverance, repentance occurs, and peace follows for some time.