When You Get Lost, Climb, Communicate, Confess

We've been talking all week about being on the journey God laid out for us. But let's be honest, sometimes on that journey, we get lost. It happens to all of us.

1 Peter 2:24-25 says, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

Peter compares us to sheep, and he's not being flattering. Sheep wander. Sheep get distracted. Sheep follow the grass right off a cliff if nobody's watching. That's us on a bad day. We start out on God's path with the best of intentions, and before we know it, we've drifted somewhere we never meant to be.

Now here's where my aviation brain kicks in. In flying, when a pilot gets lost, there's a rule you learn early on. Climb, communicate, confess you're lost. Climb to get above the trouble and see better. Communicate, get on the radio and reach out for help. Confess that you're lost so somebody can actually guide you home. Three steps. Simple. But they'll save your life.

And y'all, that's exactly what we need to do when we've strayed. Climb. Get your eyes up and back on God. Communicate. Talk to Him. Don't go silent because you're embarrassed. Confess you're lost. That's the hardest one, because pride tells us to keep flying like we've got it figured out. Pride will fly you right into a mountain. But the second you admit you're off course, the Shepherd starts reeling you in. He's not mad. Sheep getting lost is literally what He signed up for.

Look at what Peter said. You were straying, but you have now returned. The path home is open. The second you call out, He comes running.

So if you've drifted today, don't panic and don't keep pushing. Climb, communicate, confess. He knows exactly how to get you home.

Be Nice. Grace Wins.

FMJ