New Paths
Oh, to be anchored in His unchanging nature...
Hello dears,
How are we all doing? Happy March! I pray that God bestows His goodness and peace upon you as we enter this new month.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how the world failed to pause when I had the mumps. Well, I’m happy to share that I finally found the nearest stop for my commute. The walk is three minutes from my apartment; I definitely miss my one-minute walk, but I’m adjusting to the rhythm of the extra steps.
Being a passenger gives me time to observe, and I often strike up conversations with the bus drivers. Lately, we’ve discussed the reasons behind our new temporary route. Interestingly, every driver has a different explanation for the detour! 🙄
The other day, a driver asked what I was currently doing. After sharing a bit about my journey, I turned the spotlight on him. He had moved from a bustling metropolitan city to our city capital, and I was curious how he mastered these unfamiliar, winding roads. He shrugged and offered a piece of wisdom that stayed with me: “It’s just like riding a bicycle. You never really forget how to ride; you only need to learn the new paths.”
His words struck a chord. We often assume that when our environment changes, we have to change our entire essence to match it. We feel a frantic pressure to rebrand or pivot just to stay relevant, letting the new path dictate who we are. But the driver’s point was that his riding, his core competency and his identity, remained the same. He didn’t become a different man because the city got smaller; he simply applied a permanent skill to a new coordinate.
We know the part about Jesus being the same yesterday, today, and forever in Hebrews 13:8-9 (NIV), but we often overlook the next line: “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings…” In our world, those “strange teachings” are the voices telling us we are suddenly inadequate because our scenery changed.
If you find yourself on a three-minute walk instead of a one-minute one, or in a “smaller” phase of life, don’t feel pressured to become a stranger to yourself. God isn’t looking for a “New You” every time He gives you a new route. He is looking for the Permanent You, the one anchored in His unchanging nature, to navigate the shifting scenery with a steady hand.
You haven’t forgotten how to ride. You don’t need a new identity for this road. The person you were in the “big city” is exactly who God needs you to be right here.
Listen to this while you reflect: Jehovah Nissi by Nathaniel Bassey.
Staying anchored with you,
Faith, for the Royal Rubies.
God isn’t looking for a “New You” every time He gives you a new route. He is looking for the Permanent You, the one anchored in His unchanging nature, to navigate the shifting scenery with a steady hand.