My folks still live in the house I grew up in. I’m so thankful for that. When we visit, I’m surrounded by a familiar scene, blessed by the scents and tastes and touches that nurtured me as a child. One thing that’s still there thriving is what we called the “tree row.” When they built the house, my dad planted a hallway of trees spanning half their property. As those trees grew and stretched toward one another, they created a kind of tunnel that I loved running through on summer days, feeling safe and hidden among the green, leafy branches. My friends and I would pitch a tent deep inside there, imagining we were in a different world, where our everyday worries and troubles were left behind. If my dad had not spent those days long ago in the hot sun, working hard, sewing seeds, preparing the way for life to sprout through the soil and reach toward the sky, I would never have known the delight and protection of the tree row. The verse below from Deuteronomy reminds me of this. It speaks of how God prepares the way for us in these often-uncertain lives we live. Before we walk through anything – whether it be an overgrown valley of fear, a vibrant time of celebration, or the ordinary daily grind, He has already been there, planting the seeds of what will be. He knows exactly what we'll need, and we never enter any new experience without His leading. We just forget it so often, and anxiety enters the scene with all its “what ifs” weighing us down, reminding us how little control we really have. Remember no matter what you’re facing, that a way has already been made for you. God has known about these moments of your life since He created you. Imagine Jesus taking your hand today, smiling and saying, “I know exactly what’s going to happen; I’ve been there Myself, and I'm here to walk you through.”
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8