One of my favorite places in Gainesville is Laurel Park. Laurel is a huge public park on the lake, with plenty of space to hammock, walking paths, and sports fields. I have played sports, laughed, cried, processed, and prayed at Laurel Park. Most days in between my CGA classes and my work, I go to Laurel just to spend time with Papa.
This week I was walking a path I had walked many times before, when I looked into the woods and saw what looked like a path. Curiously I followed it. Soon I had discovered this beautiful trail through the woods. It was little-traveled and so peaceful. As the Lord and I explored the woods on this trail together, he showed me something about himself.
He showed me that my relationship with him is like the biggest, most beautiful, most intricate park, where there will always be new paths to discover.
If you have read any of my recent blogs, you know that in the past 2 months I have gone through a time that’s very difficult but also so full of growth. He has had many purposes for this time, but one of them has been to show me his own emotional heart. He’s shown me that he cries when I cry, he laughs when I laugh, and he is filled with joy when he gets to spend time with me and watch me grow.
But here’s the thing…in order to discover the new path in Laurel, I had to leave the part of the park that was comfortable with. I had to leave an old place to discover a new place. And it’s the same way with my relationship with God. I had to stop relating to God in ways that were comfortable and familiar in order to discover a new aspect of him.
But in the end, it is all the same park. And in the end, he is always the same God, vast, beautiful, and full of places to discover.
So my question for you is….as you’re walking with the Lord, where are you looking into the woods and thinking “that looks like a path.” What new aspect of himself is he asking you to discover? And will you be willing to leave behind what’s familiar to discover that thing as he walks with you?
