Trust the Trail Markers
A HIKING DEVOTIONAL
You’re two miles into what was supposed to be a “moderate” hike (whoever wrote that description clearly has different standards than you), and suddenly the trail just... disappears. One minute you’re following a nice, obvious path, and the next you’re standing in what looks like a nature documentary about “untamed wilderness.” Your GPS keeps saying “searching for signal” like it’s having an existential crisis, and you’re pretty sure that rustling in the bushes wasn’t just the wind.
Then you spot it – a small blaze on a tree trunk, or maybe a cairn (those little stacked rock piles that look like someone was really bored). Trail markers. Someone who knew this route way better than you took the time to mark the way forward, even when the path wasn’t obvious.
This is exactly what Jesus was talking about in John 16:13 when he promised, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” He also said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” And in Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus encouraged us: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Jesus knew his followers would face moments when the path forward wasn’t clear, so he didn’t just leave us to figure it out alone. He promised guidance through his Spirit, promised we’d recognize his voice when we’re listening for it, and promised that seeking direction isn’t a waste of time – we’ll actually find what we’re looking for.
Here’s the thing about following Jesus – it’s not always like walking on a paved sidewalk with clear signage. Sometimes the next step isn’t obvious. Sometimes you’re standing there thinking, “Okay God, I want to do the right thing here, but I have absolutely no idea what that looks like.” Maybe it’s a career decision, a relationship issue, or just trying to figure out how to be a decent human when everyone around you seems to have lost their minds.
The good news? Jesus left trail markers. Not just in the Bible (though that’s a pretty major one), but also through other people who’ve walked this path before, through circumstances that line up in ways that seem too perfect to be coincidence, and sometimes through that quiet inner voice that says “this way” when you’re willing to listen.
This Week’s Challenge: Next time you’re facing a decision and feeling lost about what to do, stop trying to figure it out all by yourself. Look for the trail markers. Read what Jesus actually said about similar situations. Talk to someone whose faith you respect.
Pay attention to the doors that open and the ones that stay stubbornly shut. Most importantly, ask Jesus directly for guidance – then actually wait for an answer instead of immediately going with your first instinct.
Trust the trail markers. The person who marked this path knows where it leads.
Questions for Reflection
1. Think About It: When you’re hiking or navigating somewhere new, what kinds of “markers” do you look for to stay on track? How do you know if you can trust them?
2. Get Personal: Describe a time when you felt completely lost about what decision to make or which direction to go in life. What helped you find your way forward (or what do you wish had been there to help)?
3. Go Deeper: If you really believed God wanted to guide you through difficult decisions, how would that change the way you approach major choices? What keeps you from asking for or trusting that guidance?