By Cindy Phillips
I saw a quote the other day that really impacted me. It said, “God has already prepared the way. He’s just preparing you.”
When you go through a trial, it is easy to think things like, “Why is the happening? Why is this happening to me?”. Trials are no fun and it’s hard not to be self-centered as you go through them. However, when you begin to think about God’s sovereignty, you realize these trials always have a purpose.
“I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.”
— Isaiah 45:2 (NIV)
Life is filled with unknowns (from our perspective) – decisions, obstacles, and detours. As believers, we are not left to wander aimlessly; God prepares the path before us and invites us to trust Him. The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, which was filled with enemies they had to conquer. Deuteronomy 31:8 says “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Moses assured them that God would lead the way. God’s presence precedes us. He walks into our future before we get there. Just as a shepherd goes ahead of the sheep, clearing the path and guiding the way, God does the same for us. We are the sheep of His pasture (Ps 95:7).
God specializes in creating roads where none exist – through deserts, seas, and storms. Think of the Red Sea (Exodus 14): a wall of water became a highway. Barriers to us are nothing to Him. He levels mountains and breaks through gates (Isaiah 45:2).
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and he will make your paths straight.” God doesn’t just prepare the way for convenience. He has a purpose in everything. When God led Joseph to Egypt through betrayal and prison, it was to save nations (Gen 37 – 50). When Jesus came, John the Baptist was sent to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4).
Faith doesn’t mean we know every step. It means we trust the One who does. The Israelites still had to step into the Jordan River before it parted (Joshua 3:15). God prepares the way, but we must walk in it.
God is the divine trailblazer. He leads, guides, opens doors, and removes obstacles. You are never alone. Before you even take your next step, He is already there – preparing the way. Instead of looking at a trial, trying to figure out the “why”, look for what God is preparing you for.