Milestones

Psalm 16: ¹¹ You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Milestones happen everyday. Some are big: wedding days, babies are born, and people we love die. Some milestones are so very small but have such a big impact on our lives. I remember so many days, and moments that looking back I realize were milestones. Sometimes they are come and gone before we realize that in a moment our lives have been forever changed. Go ahead make a list of all the milestones in your life; then go back and think about how these days and moments changed who you are.

I don't remember the day we bought our first house, but I do remember moving in. I remember the day we moved out, and I remember signing the papers when we sold it. I also can remember building our second house. Picking out each and every detail and planning for a life we expected. It was a milestone. So was the day we packed our Uhaul and left it all behind.

We don't plan for all the milestones in our life, and they come and go before our eyes. You cannot know the future until you truly let the past go. The past is such a haunting thing full of memories and hindsight. Full of milestones that passed before you realized that moment would change your life forever. If you tried to make a list you might find that there were to many little milestones to list. The big milestones fill a page, but the little ones are a book.

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. ¹⁵ Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before;and God will call the past to account

God already knows each and every milestone we will face. He prepares us daily for them if we let him. When we open ourselves up to God and his will we learn that every milestone is a part of his plan. We are not in control. This is such a hard concept for us to comprehend or begin to understand. God is at the helm and he guides our ship through the sea of life. However, sometimes the water is choppy and the storm is at hand. In these moments we seize the wheel. In these moments we want to steer for ourselves. It is hard to trust that we will survive the storm. In these moments we stray from the path God has chosen for us. When we leave the path we venture out into the storm without direction. We find ourselves sucked up into so many things we could have avoided, and with time we again surrender to God and he shifts us back on course.
Milestones are exciting and scary. They forever change us and they happen in the blink of an eye. We don't see them coming so without God in our lives we find ourselves foolishly facing so many things we aren't prepared for. If we turn away from God we have to find the way alone. Would you travel through the jungle without a guide or a map? Why travel through life alone?

I am often reminded of the lyrics to this audio adrenaline song:
"Walk On Water"
Simon Peter won't you put those nets down follow me I'll lead you out of this town to a place where no boat has ever been I will make you a fisher of men Jesus walked out on the water said take courage it is me Peter trusted and he wanted to go farther so he stepped out on the sea If I keep my eyes on Jesus I can walk on water If I keep my eyes on Jesus I can walk on water Just like peter I want to go farther tread on the sea and walk on the water step where he steps and go where he goes side by side when the sea billows roll I'll be alright when the wind comes I'll be alright when the waves come crashing I'm not afraid for this is my father's world

When will you give up your pride, trust the Lord, and step out on the water?