“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). For many who grew up in church, this is a familiar verse – one learned early and recited often. Yet its depth can be easy to overlook until life calls us to truly live it. The following verse continues, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6). These words invite us beyond simple remembrance into genuine surrender. Are we truly allowing Him to direct our paths, or are we still relying on our own plans? As we reflect, may we be reminded to listen for His voice, trust His guidance, and walk according to His will rather than our own.
This time last year, I was facing significant heath challenges that led me to begin the process of retiring from my current position. While I had not yet reached the “ideal” retirement age, I had the years of service, and the penalty was minimal. After much prayer and many conversations with my family and doctor, we agreed that stepping away was the best decision for my health. At the time, we still did not fully understand what was happening. There were numerous doctor visits, tests, and even trips to the emergency room. In the end, what seemed to be a major issue was resolved with a surprisingly simple solution.
I officially retired in December, and soon after, I found myself in unfamiliar territory. For 27 years, I had followed the same routine day after day. Suddenly, that structure was gone – and I was left asking a simple but difficult question: What now? In that moment, I realized just how lost I felt.
During this same season, my husband – who then served as a full-time teacher and bi-vocational music minister – began to feel led to step away from ministry. We didn’t fully understand why, but we both sensed that something was shifting. As he shared this with me, I found an unexpected peace. In our thirty-one years of marriage – and his thirty-four years of church ministry – I had never felt at ease about leaving a church. Each transition had been difficult, marked by deep relationships and meaningful connections.
This time, however, was different. We were part of a loving, caring church, surrounded by devoted friends, and located just minutes from our home. By all accounts, it didn’t make sense to leave. Yet, we continued to pray, asking God to make His will clear – wondering if this was truly His leading or simply our own weariness. Over time, we became confident that He was indeed guiding us to step away, holding on the promise: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6).
After fourteen years of faithful service, our last Sunday was February 1, 2026. For the first time in our married life, we found ourselves without a church home, without a ministry role, and without a clear sense of what came next. In many ways, we felt completely lost.
We began by making a list of churches we wanted to visit. As a minister, weekends off are rare, and when they do come, they are often spent traveling to see children, visiting family, or taking a much-needed vacation. This was new for us – an opportunity to visit churches in our area and reconnect with friends we hadn’t seen in quite some time.
Little did we know, God was already at work, preparing us for what was about to unfold – something that would impact our lives in a profound way. Just forty-two days after we stepped away, my husband’s father suffered a massive heart attack and went home to be with his Lord and Savior.
This – THIS is why “…and HE will direct your paths” is so important. Whether you are contemplating a job change, considering asking someone to spend the rest of their life with you, or deciding where to attend college, every decision should begin with seeking God. When He is at the center, you can trust you will not be led down the wrong path.
That doesn’t mean the road will always be familiar or easy. In fact, you may find yourself in places you never expected, unsure of what lies ahead. But even in the unknown, He is faithful – present, guiding, and leading you every step of the way. As Scripture reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).