Proverbs 3:5, 6 (6)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
This “if-then†statement has provides a promise that has been an instruction and an encouragement to many Christians.
If – you trust God completely and always
If – you don’t rely on your own ingenuity or abilities at all, and
If – you recognize that without God you are an absolute Zero,
Then – He will be your guide through life.
The Eads Bridge in St. Louis was designed by James B. Eads and was completed in 1874. At that time it was the longest arch bridge in the world. It was 6,442 feet long and was constructed with the use of ribbed steel arch spans. This was the first time this method had ever been used on major bridge project. The people did not trust the structure to be safe.
Therefore on June 14, 1874, John Robinson led an elephant across the new bridge.  It was believed that elephants would instinctively refuse to walk on unsafe structures. Two weeks later, James Eads sent 14 trains across the bridge at the same time.
The bridge that had not been trusted became a common means of passage from Missouri to Illinois across the Mississippi river. Believers in like manner may have difficulty trusting in God. We may cling to our old methods of trusting in our faulty intelligence and our weak efforts. Until we can instinctively learn to trust in Him, and lean on Him for guidance in life naturally, we will continue to stumble from one failure to another.
Dr. Gayle Woods
Luke 15:11-32
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa. 53:6
My wife got me a GPS (Global Positioning System) for Christmas! I had been hinting for a long time that I wanted one. She gave no indication that she was impressed with my great need. When we found them deeply discounted and we were about to leave for a 1600 mile trip to visit our son’s family in California for Christmas, however, I was able to “sell†her on the wonderful benefits of the technological toy.
This morning I took my wife to work. I didn’t need to use the GPS because I knew the route well. There is still some new to wear off of the little wonder so I hooked it up and turned it on. It was still programmed from the previous day to navigate to my home. As we left our drive and headed toward her workplace the lady’s voice on the GPS began to try to get me to go to the destination that was programmed in the GPS – my home! We had just gone one block when the GPS lady told me to turn right. She wanted to take me around the block and back to my house. This continued throughout the whole trip to my wife’s workplace. I was amused at the insistent effort of the electronic lady as she tried persistently to get me to go back home.
Later as I drove on toward my workplace I mused over the situation. This seemed to be so much like the voice of God that speaks to us when we stray away from His will. He talks to us step by step along the way trying to persuade us to make a U turn and come back to Him. No matter how far we stray, He is there by our side. His voice is clear. The message is consistent. The confidence is sure . . . we can get back home if we will just turn from our own way and return to Him.
Dr. Gayle Woods
