"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are
the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Psalm 19:20-21

Many times God deals with us as He dealt with the Israelites as He led them out of Egypt. The first crossing of the sea was made very easy. The guidance could not have been simpler: the wind blew and the people crossed. Not so much a foot wet, except perhaps by wind-driven spray.

But the second time, that went much differently. 

The priests had to walk into the strong current of a flooded river and stand still there. And it wasn't until they obeyed and carried the ark right into the river, that the water rolled back before them! (Joshua 3)

We may be called again and again to walk into our own "rivers" - to wet our feet in them. We may be called to do what nobody understands. But the Word must come first, and also His promise. You and I must be sure of what we are called to do, with an inward conviction that absolutely nothing can shake. 

Only God and those who have to walk in that path know how hard this kind of faith-life can be. But He does know... and when others don't hear the voice we have heard, we are reminded... "It thunders...," then He comes near, and we know Him as we never knew Him before.

My Father, there are so many paths that our NEEMA girls could walk - so many ways to choose. And there are certain decisions they must make that can lead them around and around, until their heart is in confusion. Today, fix their heart on this truth: When they feel confused, there will always be a light, held low so that their feet wont stumble - a sure light that will shine on their paths. Thank you, Father, that You speak words of counsel to us.

Devotion rewritten from "I Come Quietly To Meet You", Amy Carmichael.