Sometimes I wish I had a map in life. Something that told me exactly which decisions to make and which direction to take. Should I take this job or that one? Should I marry this person or that person? Should I go to this college or that one? What career path should I choose? Which industry is the right fit? A life map would lay it all out clearly, and I wouldn’t have to ever worry about making the wrong decision.
But life doesn’t work that way, and neither does God. However, God gives us something even better: a compass. God’s Word is the compass that constantly points us back to Him, inviting His presence into every circumstance. It doesn’t give all the answers at once, but it directs our hearts, illuminates the next step, and keeps us aligned with His truth.
David understood this better than anyone. In the book of Psalms, he wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). He constantly faced decisions without a clear path. He stood against a giant five times his size, fled from King Saul, who was hunting him, and made mistakes that severely cost him.
But no matter the decision, David continually sought the Lord. In 1 Samuel 23:2–4, he asked whether he should attack the Philistines, and God gave him clear direction. In 2 Samuel 5:19, before going into battle, he inquired of the Lord again and trusted His guidance. Even in everyday life, he prayed, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4–5).
There are many times when I just want instant clarity, every choice laid out, and every outcome known. But that would remove the need for faith. On days when I feel lost or uncertain in life, that is exactly when I need to pause, open the Word, and invite God’s presence into my circumstances. His Word, like a compass, keeps me pointed in the right direction. It does not remove my uncertainty, but it gives me clarity, wisdom, and peace for the next step.
Here are a few compass scriptures that I constantly go back to when I feel lost or uncertain:
- Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4)
- Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33)
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5–6)
The Bigger Picture: God’s Word is our compass. It may not hand us a map with all the answers, but it points us back to Jesus, lights the path, and keeps our hearts focused on the journey with Him.
The Bigger Picture 