Nov 19, 2025 – He Leads
Have you ever heard it said that God allows certain situations or types of people to come across your path until you learn how to deal with them? If you haven’t, then let me ask this a different way. Have you ever noticed how you keep having to deal with the same kind of frustrating personalities or predicaments, be it social, or at work, or with family? I have a loved one going through this right now; and, someone who supposedly loves this person a lot has boiled the person down to being the common denominator in each situation.
I beg to differ. My feelings on this are actually much stronger than begging. I think there are some issues from the past that haven’t been dealt with (fully or perhaps at all) that God is watchfully allowing to keep coming up, perhaps in different but similar ways, that will bring growth, healing, eventual graduation from these lessons, and a potentially deeper relationship with God. That’s just my two cents though.
I believe that true release will only come from leaning in to God’s guidance and comfort through the process. And you can bet that I’ve been giving my thoughts on the matter…..as I’ve said before, I think we aren’t supposed to always mind our own business. Perhaps God has brought someone across our paths that He wants to speak to through us (and maybe even help us in the process). We don’t have to bring about the realizations and change; God will do that work. We just need to listen and be willing to offer thoughts/suggestions which don’t have to be mandates. People can take or leave them. They are wise if they at least listen, to the person and to God.
Power – 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Joyce writes, “When you receive Christ as your Savior, you receive the ability to do everything God wants you to do…. But all of this comes in seed form, and seeds must be watered to grow. The Bible says we are to water them with the Word. God changes you from glory to glory as you stay in His Word and are transformed into his image. Receive God’s Word as one of the most precious gifts that God offers, and watch it change you. You are even changing right now as you read this devotional!”
JA – John 14:6 – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:12 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ “ We may, we will, face difficult people and situations throughout life. They can be more peacefully handled if we lean in to God’s guidance and comfort. He knows what’s ahead.
JC – “Leave outcomes up to Me. Follow Me wherever I lead, without worrying about how it will all turn out. Think of your life as an adventure, with Me as your guide and companion. Live in the now, concentrating on staying in step with Me.”
New – I laughed out loud, here in this sunroom alone, when I read the title on page 116:
“Jesus Leads”
Mark 8:34 MSG – “Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; Embrace it. Follow Me and I’ll show you how.’ “
Slawson writes, “Jesus does not ask us to go live for Him and call Him for help only when we need it – though that is how life often works. No. His call for us is to follow Him. He leads. He drives. We watch and go where He goes. Picture a child, following behind a parent, stepping where he steps, turning where he turns. Jesus specifically tells us not to run from suffering, yet our prayer lists are often full of just that… alleviate the pain, remove the trial, fix the problem. Jesus’s invitation includes suffering, but in the suffering there is another option that the world doesn’t have – to do it like he did – for the Father’s glory and for the kingdom’s sake. This is redemptive suffering. Pain is inevitable, but it can also be purposeful. We can only experience purpose, even if we can’t understand it, if we are following Jesus. He is choosing the route our lives take. We are stepping where He steps and turning where He turns and trusting Him for everything on our paths.’ “
