Devotionals for the Heart: God can give you clear vision and guidance

God Will Make Our Paths Straight
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.”

—Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Trusting God is a constant theme in our lives. We never truly arrive at a perfect level of trust, and we’re constantly growing in our walk with the Lord.

The anchor text above (Proverbs 3:5-6) is one of my favorites for multiple reasons, but recently, I read the last portion of it with fresh eyes. Allow me to explain: We’re commanded to trust in the LORD with all our heart and to refrain from leaning on our own understanding. We’re told in all our ways to acknowledge Him, but do we ever notice the promise at the end? “He will make straight your paths.”

Do you know what this means? We don’t need to fear or try to take control of our “destiny” because if we’re following the Lord, He will make straight our paths. Even now there are times when fear creeps in and I want to take control because, in my sinful nature, I wonder if I can trust the Lord with my future. It sounds so terrible to admit this out loud. I know I can trust Him but sometimes that head knowledge doesn’t reach my heart, and I don’t live it out in my faith walk with Jesus Christ.

Do I truly believe it with all my heart? Do I believe that if I’m following the Lord, I’m not going to miss out on anything I’m supposed to have?

I’ve always been a dreamer with high aspirations. The world would laugh if they knew of the secret desires of my heart, but I know God puts dreams in our hearts for a reason. They might not turn out quite the way we expected, but in His way and in His perfect timing, God will meet the desires of our hearts.

A couple months ago, the Lord challenged me to follow Him wholeheartedly without allowing myself to become distracted by fears or how my circumstances appear. He reminded me I don’t need to try to be someone I’m not or force myself to seize opportunities that clearly aren’t for me because everything I’m supposed to have—from the experiences to the friends who are meant to be in my path—will be there if I’m following the Lord. I don’t need to force anything. If I’m following the Lord, He will make my path straight, and I will end up where I’m supposed to be.

Dear friend, I don’t know the specific desires of your heart. But God does. Trust Him. Don’t lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father God, thank You for making my paths straight and for leading me through this life on Earth. Thank You that I can trust You with my life no matter what. Please help me to trust You where You lead. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Trust in God” by Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to follow God’s calling to pursue writing seriously. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). In addition to fiction, she also writes devotionals and has been published on other websites. Her prayer is that her readers leave deeply encouraged and more in love with Jesus.

When not writing, Hannah also enjoys being involved with local theater companies, with a primary focus on Biblical theater. She wants to show the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

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Connect with Hannah:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlbensonwrites/