Guidance
by David Silvester
From infancy the KJV was the only translation of the Bible used in our home and church, and so many Bible phrases still come to mind in that form today. It is therefore not surprising that Scriptures in this form come to mind in every day experiences.
Hence, the above verse came to mind whilst awaiting a return flight from Innsbruck. Looking out from the airport terminal building, the view of the airport’s location was quite amazing. It soon became evident that our inbound flight the previous week was between two mountains with not a great distance between them. Now an experienced pilot would have no difficulty negotiating that approach on a clear day, but our inbound flight was in thick low cloud!
So how does a pilot manage to negotiate such a descent in those conditions? It is because the pilot is guided by instructions from the Air Traffic Control Officer, and that officer is using the ‘eyes’ of radar. This reminded me of the words of Psalm 32:8.
Similarly, as we face difficult situations of life, it is such a comfort to know that we have a heavenly Father who is constantly caring for our welfare, watching over us, and ready to guide us when we are ‘tuned in’ to hear and listen to His guiding instructions.
In the same way that the airline pilot is tuned in to the Air Traffic Control, and they are using radar to guide and direct him in those difficult situations where eyesight is insufficient, so those who trust in the Lord are able to look to Him to direct the path of their life. This is where the words of Proverbs 3:5–6 become so meaningful; ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight’. Acknowledging here means inviting God to come into the situation, and letting Him direct the way ahead.
There has to be trust on the part of the pilot in the person at the other end of his radio link, in just the same way that there has to be trust in, and a deliberate act of submission to God’s way and will for our life. This, in the long term, is by far the safest and most fruitful course for us to take.
Prayer: Thank You, heavenly Father, for Your loving care, and for the way You are constantly watching over me as I travel through life. Thank You too that You respond and are ready to provide the guidance I need to take me safely through the uncertain paths of life, Amen.
David Silvester is married and has a son, two daughters and eight grandchildren. He trained as a production engineer. He then moved on to become a lecturer of engineering craft skills before being called of God in his early fifties to become a pastor of a Baptist church. He says that,"having previously experienced an amazing healing on a day others expected me to die, it came as no surprise that God directed me and my wife, Margaret, to become involved with Ellel Ministries."
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