Several years ago, my husband wanted to go out in the woods and use his compass to find a lake. We didn’t take a lot of provisions with us or a flashlight because we were just going to hike in and out during the daytime. We also did not tell anyone where we were going; so off we went. Instead of taking the road to the lake, we parked the car a few miles from the lake and my husband looked on his map and took a compass heading. We followed that heading through the woods until we reached the lake. It took a few hours to get in but all in all, it was a successful venture.
We decided to follow the road back to the car and began to walk. What we didn’t know was that the road forked a little bit north of us, and that the road we were on was not the one we thought it was. After a while, we realized that the road was not taking us back to the car. We talked about what we should do since it was going to be dark in about an hour. We decided to backtrack to the place we left from at the lake. We would then follow the compass heading through the woods back to the car.
By the time we got to the lake, it was getting dark. Remember, my husband did not have a flashlight with him. In order to get out, he had me walk fifteen or twenty feet ahead of him, he would take a compass heading and have me move until I was in line with it. He would then come and stand where I was and then I would walk another fifteen or twenty feet. We did that for the next few hours. I would walk ahead, he would take the heading. I would move until I was on that heading, he would walk up to where I was standing and we would do it all over again. Over and over we did those same repetitious steps.
The moon rose higher and illuminated the woods. I felt better about it, but knew we were “lost” and so I kept repeating Bible verses to myself, holding onto whatever I could until we got out of the woods. My husband wasn’t worried at all because he trusted the compass and knew that if we followed it, eventually we would come out of the woods by the car.
Finally, the woods cleared and we saw the road. We came out of the woods within about fifteen yards of the car. To say I was greatly relieved is an understatement. But I did learn something that day; I can trust the compass, and even if I don’t know where I am. The compass will always point me in the right direction.
That experience was a great life lesson for me, both practically and spiritually. We, as finite humans, will sometimes find ourselves in situations where we feel we are lost in the woods. We cannot see our way out of it and it feels dark. We need to remember that our sense of direction will lie to us, our emotions will lie to us, but our compass will never lie to us. If we will keep our eyes on the Lord (the compass) and check with the map (the Word) we will be able to walk in the right direction and eventually we will get out of the situation we are in. We must learn not to rely on what we think is happening around us and try to find our own way out of whatever situation we are in. The book of Proverbs has a few great verses that explains this principle: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6.
For me…lesson learned…trust the Compass!
It’s Summer and I am going to reblog a few of my outdoor posts!
This is why I’m glad God is holy. It attracts the magnet of my soul, helps orient me when situations are complicated and every course of action carries a consequence. Just do what’s right. God will work the rest out.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Such great insight…thanks so much for sharing it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great illustration to emphasize the necessity to trust the “compass” when we are in the middle of a situation we don’t understand. Many times in my life, God’s faithfulness has become evident eventually, but had I started out using my own feelings as my guide, the end result wouldn’t have been beneficial.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Same here! I was sure I was “lost.” Not true, but sure felt like it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My daughter and her husband are going though a complicate job situation right now. We need trust in the compass.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, He will lead and guide us through the situation (woods)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed reading this uplifting story about the nature of faith.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much! It wasn’t fun to go through it at the time but looking back, there was a lesson there! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Oh this is so timely for me. God has been unpacking so much about Him and His Word being my compass. Thanks for confirming. Glad you got out ok!
“You’re my compass
when the road is long”
– “Only Jesus” Brian Johnson
“Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, So I can find my way to the sacred mountain, to the place of your presence, To enter the place of worship, meet my exuberant God, Sing my thanks with a harp, magnificent God, my God.” Psalm 43:3-4 MSG
Blessings xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautiful!!!! I had no idea!!! Thank you for sharing that! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great life lesson! Reminds me of the scripture, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Ps. 119:105
❤️carmen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great scripture!!! Thanks so much for adding it to the conversation!
LikeLiked by 2 people
So true! Thanks for another great scripture!
LikeLike
I am SO glad you survived or I would not be able to read these amazing posts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me, too! My husband still insists we were never lost, but I was thinking…”Lions and tigers and bears, Oh My! 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m pretty sure men never think they are lost!
LikeLiked by 1 person
To this day…..:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen to that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful lesson! I just finished reading another blogger use a real life situation to teach a Biblical truth. Awesome! I love this one, too. I love how the Lord takes ordinary or not so ordinary situations in our lives to teach us what he wants us to learn. He does this with me often, i.e. he gives me real life parables to teach me his truths – anything from ants in the garage to a toothache, and on and on it goes, always learning and growing. Thank you, Valerie, so much for this lesson on keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and on his Word to lead us in the way we should go. Amen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind and uplifting comment. Yes, the Lord can take anything and use it as a lesson for us…so happy He can!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me, too, and you are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Valerie,
I like the fact you didn’t beat your husband up because it was his idea 💡 to go into the woods in the first place. Then you both trust each other. Unity is a must when lost in the woods.
Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is such a great thought!!! We do trust each other, but it’s been a lotta years coming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
First of all, that was very scary! I would have been using the same strategy as you, repeating Bible verses and praying every step of the way. What an awesome analogy, God as our compass and the map His Word! How easy it is to let our emotions and the world around us drag us into defeat and fear. Excellent message, Valerie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much…it was not really fun to go through it, but we both learned a lot! Thank you for contributing to the conversation!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was an excellent lesson Valerie! I can’t imagine how scary that must have been. Trusting in the compass and the Lord is the only direction to go!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is! Thank you for your input!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scary there for a moment Val.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, it was. We got back to the car about 10:00 and back into town close to 11:00 P.M…..Yikes!
LikeLike
🙏👀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you made it out of the woods safely! And what a great lesson learned! Thanks for sharing! A thought occurred to me that the “map” is also the “light”!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can relate to this on the practical and the spiritual levels. I hope your hubby takes a light on all hikes nowadays, Lol! But what a great life lesson!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, he does! He has a lot of wilderness skills and that was a great lesson! Thanks for the giggle! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Using a compass transit does require faith! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
HE SHOULD BE GLAD HE HAD JUST YOU…AND NOT A WHOLE GAGGLE OF PRETEENS LIKE I DID AS A TEACHER IN NATURE’S CLASSROOM!
LikeLike
Thank you for the reblog! I don’t know if I was much help, but at least I could hold the compass for him :
LikeLike