Wouldn’t it be nice if, when we face a complex issue, we could just look for discernible markers from God to show us the right path! This summer when I hiked a bit of the Appalachian Trail you could look for a sign or a marker like the white paint mark on a tree (like the one over my shoulder in this pic!). God doesn’t work that way. It isn’t that He leaves us without direction. Rather, He promises to give us wisdom and direct our steps as we depend on Him. As a pastor, I often deal with complex situations where a clear answer is not always readily apparent, those kind of situations that can keep you from sleeping. Where is the mark on the tree?! I shouldn’t look for it. God’s word assures us. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (ESV). Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (ESV). So we pray, expressing our dependence on Him. And we trust, stepping forward as we depend on Him.