The need for God’s guidance

Each of us needs guidance. No one should ignore the need for guidance. Broadly speaking, guidance means giving direction, instruction, and advice for growth and development. Guidance is usually provided by a counsellor, advisor, or a person in authority.

Christians look to God and the Scriptures for guidance. Isaiah 58:11 says, “And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” This text tells us about God’s commitment to guide His people and the results of His guidance.

In telling His disciples about the work of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13). All the direction, instructions, and advice that the Christian needs can be found in the holy Scriptures, which is God’s means of communicating with believers. It is certainly God’s intent to provide the guidance His children need. 

Even when God’s people refused to obey and failed to take into account the great wonders God did among them, God in His love and mercy guided them both day and night. Nehemiah 9:19,20 says, “You in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar by fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them.” Note: God gave His “good Spirit to instruct them.”

Instructions mean guidance. Christians today need divine instructions. And only God is uniquely qualified to lead and guide His people in the way they must go to please Him. King David said, “He leads me in paths of righteousness for  his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3).

A note of caution here. Although God is willing and able to give the guidance His people need; He never forces His will or His way on any of us. It is entirely up to us to submit to his leading and direction. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23). From this text we realize that mortal man is not in any position to direct his own steps. Therefore, he must rely on God’s help to do so. Then and only then is he able to please God.

God is ‘omnipotent’ meaning God has unlimited power; completely able to do anything. Therefore, a Christian has no option but to depend on God for guidance in everything. That’s why we present ourselves to Him in prayer seeking His wisdom, knowledge, and instructions. God is super able to exceed our requests and desires. This indeed is a confirmation of God’s sovereignty in that He can do greater things that transcends human imaginations and abilities. Ephesians 3:20 says. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”

Consider that the goal of God’s guidance is not to make Christians “super wiser” than non-christians or that the Christian life will be without hardships and uncertainty. Rather, God uses circumstances in our lives to assist us in our dependence on His “power at work within us.”

When God miraculously made the way of deliverance through the Red Sea for the children of Israel, Moses and the Israelites sang in appreciation of God’s deliverance. “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.” (Exodus 15:13).  

What God did for Israel He is able to do for us today. Israel was completely helpless to escape the onslaught of Pharaoh and the Egyptians on their own. But because of God’s intervention, Israel was delivered. To get to that stage, Moses said to the people “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13,14).

This same principle applies to us. Firstly, “Fear not, stand firm” is the key to a positive outcome. We have to trust God and never lose courage. What God promises He is able to perform. He keeps His promises to all who believe and obey. Just as in Israel’s day, God’s intent is to maintain a close relationship with His people. James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

As mentioned, God did not forsake His ancient people in the wilderness. Instead, He “went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” (Exodus 13:21). Day and night means continuously. Israel’s God is our God today. What a great and mighty God we serve. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!