God is a God who goes before, prepares the path, makes a way, crooked places straight, firm foundation for steps, dry land through great waters. And He leads us in this way He’s prepared. But then He also follows us into it, hedges us behind and before, pursues us, chases after us, with passion and desire, goodness and mercy.
He just wants us… our hearts and affections.
Consider Israel, how He had a plan to free them from oppression, executed this plan flawlessly, led them by night with fire, by day with cloud, destroyed chariots and assassins who flanked them at the edge of the sea; He was with them every moment, in every direction, ahead and behind. Even when they complained against Him and went off-track in their own way, God never left; He continued to go before, making and showing the way. They rebelled and He loved and forgave and continued to lead them and chase after their hearts.
…and they rebelled and He loved and forgave and continued to lead them and chase after their hearts…
But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers… ~ Deuteronomy 4:29-31
Even when we rebel and are in distress, He is merciful God who loves and forgives and continues to lead us and chase after our hearts.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. ~ Isaiah 43:2
When we’re in over our heads, He is with us.
Even when we’ve done it to ourselves, He still guides us.
When the searing heat of our circumstances is more than we can bear, He walks with us through it, His loving arms a shield that surrounds us.
…because He loves and forgives and continues to lead us and chase after our hearts.
It’s what He really wants.
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image by thais morais on unsplash