Day 5: Go Back
Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you” (Genesis 31:3).
Heavenly Father, You gave the promise in Your word, I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you (Psalm 32:8).
We know that You are great in counsel and mighty in deed (Jeremiah 32:19 - ESV), and we know that that Your way is perfect (Psalm 18:30). But still we struggle when we do not understand Your leading. Help us to simply trust and obey, following the example of those You have left us.
Abraham trusted and obeyed when the way ahead was unclear (Genesis 12:1-5); Jacob trusted and obeyed when You asked him to go back to the land of your fathers... (Genesis 31:3). For both, the call You gave was a significant part of the incredible plan You were unfolding.
O Lord, may we, too, surrender to the plan You are unfolding in our lives—even when it is unclear or perplexing. Even when You tell us to go back—in order to move us forward.
Help us to trust Your wisdom when You call us to the unfinished past—to build bridges, to mend fences, to face fears, to confront wrongs, to complete tasks. Or to simply begin again in Your way, Your plan, Your timing.
And even as we wrestle with fear and apprehension, help us not to resist Your counsel as a stubborn animal resists: Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you (Psalm 32:9).
Help us to give You our past with its mistakes and its consequences. Help us to give You our present with its demands and its stresses. Help us to give You our future with its hopes and its uncertainties. Help us to listen to Your voice, trusting that the Lord's word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him (Psalm 18:30).
Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you; Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
Refrain: God will take care of you, Through every day, o’er all the way; He will take care of you, God will take care of you.
Through days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you; When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.
All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you; Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you; Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.
~ Civilla D. Martin ~ 1904
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