Over the years, through personal experiences and studying scripture, I’ve learned that God often allows us to endure long periods of waiting on Him. At times, it feels as though He’s absent or isn’t answering our prayers. He carries us through excruciating pain, and we cling to Him, staying close. But as time passes, it can seem like He fades away or no longer cares, even when we’re doing things “right.” I don’t believe this is to test our faith or see if we’ll abandon Him—He already knows our hearts. Instead, it’s to reveal to us who we are and whether we’ll remain faithful or stray from the path. God grants us free will to choose our way. Perhaps He wants us to see what He already knows. I’ve also learned that straying from the path or acting without God in our decisions always carries consequences. Ultimately, God’s plan will unfold, with or without our cooperation or resistance.

In Genesis, God promised Abram a son and countless heirs. Yet, as years passed and his wife Sarai grew old and barren, they doubted God. Abram slept with Hagar to have a child, and Ishmael was born. Years later, God fulfilled His promise, and Abram and Sarai (now Abraham and Sarah) had Isaac. Abraham became the father of the great nation of Israel. However, the consequence of his lack of faith was that Ishmael, his son born out of wedlock, became the father of a nation, and the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael remain in conflict to this day. The world still feels the ripple effects of one man’s act of disobedience. Later, when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, Abraham acted in faith, preparing to obey until God intervened and provided an alternative sacrifice. I believe this was a turning point—Abraham learned to trust God completely, no matter the cost.

Years later, the nation of Israel fell into slavery in Egypt, where they were oppressed and killed by their taskmasters. God promised to deliver them to the Promised Land, and Moses led them to freedom. They praised God, but while waiting in the desert, they lost faith, built false idols, and longed to return to slavery, forgetting the pain of their past and God’s deliverance. In the end, Israel reached the Promised Land, but only after the generation that strayed had died—even Moses didn’t make it.

I’ve read countless biblical stories where God made a promise, people strayed, pain followed, yet God always fulfilled His promise. I’ve experienced this firsthand, too. God saved my son from death’s grip, and I praised Him. But as the storm passed, I fell off the path, waking up lacking faith and filled with pain. The path may seem clear at the fork, but the lanes often intertwine along the journey, and crossing back and forth is easier than we think. So, what’s the answer? Clearly, it’s to have unwavering faith in God and follow Him without hesitation or doubt. Realistically, that’s no simple task a self-help book or online guide can solve. It requires the power of the Holy Spirit, a resource available to us all, but we must get ourselves out of the way and submit. Did you cringe at that word? Humility and submissiveness aren’t popular in our modern American lives, but they are keys to freedom and a map to stay on the path of life. There are only two paths to choose from, and though they’re well-known, they’re often interconnected along the way. The challenge is sticking to just one. I’m on a side road right now—if you see me, come say hello.