Don’t drift where the tide leads: follow God
Martha Olawale
“And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21
Life is like a battlefield. You wake to a wave of choices and navigate each day, making decisions rooted in your core beliefs. Even if you don’t affirm your allegiance to a particular set of values, you are bound to something you inadvertently answer to with every decision.
To live for God doesn’t mean you are free from being human or somehow translated into a blameless heavenly being. No, living for God means that, although you live in the flesh, you are conscious of and intentional about the gravity of each decision you make as you navigate life daily. A boat without a sailor steering it in the right direction will drift where the tide leads, and that might mean being submerged beneath the sea or wrecked on a deserted island. It takes a purposeful destination, charted by intention, to keep a boat on course despite storms and high waves.
You can imagine how long three years felt for Elijah as he hid from Ahab. Although his choice to follow God cost him his freedom in the eyes of man, he emerged from the hideout a giant and a bigger trouble for the enemy. Following God may sometimes mean going through a training period, but no time spent walking with Him is wasted. Two of the most crucial miracles in Elijah’s record occurred during the season of waiting. In that season, God used him to feed the Widow of Zarephath and her son (1 Kings 17:8-16). When her son died, God used him to raise him up (1 Kings 17:17-24).
Walking with God guarantees His presence, even when your destination seems a thousand miles away. No matter the rough ride on the tides, He will get you safely to shore. The children of Israel traveled through the wilderness for forty years, enjoying God’s presence through battles, plagues, celebrations, and disobedience. Despite their constant tantrums, God’s promised presence made the difference in their story. Exodus 33:14 says, “And he said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'”
You must know God to know your life’s purpose, and until you do, you won’t know your worth. You are meant to rest in God’s capable hands, not to drift where the tide leads. Choose to live for Him because what you live for determines what you get out of life. So don’t lose focus; follow God. Make a conscious choice to let Him lead you so He can show you the course to your destiny, chapter by chapter. If you choose to sail alone, you’ll keep chasing the wind instead of riding on the eagle’s wings. Regardless of the ups and downs you encounter on your path, God won’t let you drown.
