When I took a couple guys from our staff for a hike one day, I noticed that we had both starts and stops along the way. We stopped to look at something on the side of the trail; we started again. We checked the trail maps; we paused for breaks.

On your journey in life, you’re not always walking. It will always include starts and stops. In fact, there are some things you’ll need to stop doing and some things you’ll need to start doing. When you know what those are, you’ll be prepared to see the signs from God that, in his goodness, he has set all along the way.

If David were writing Psalm 23:3 today, he might say, “God keeps me on track.” The Good Shepherd doesn’t just feed us. He leads us. He doesn’t just correct us. He directs us.

You may wonder then, “Why is it so difficult to figure out what God wants me to do with my life? Why does God’s will often seem hidden? Is God playing games with me? Does God enjoy confusing me?” Of course not.

God has given us a roadmap: the Bible. God has given us a compass: our conscience. God has also given us a personal guidance counselor: the Holy Spirit. Clearly, God wants to lead us in the paths of righteousness. This is important to understand, because God never intended for you to figure out the steps of your journey without him.

How you get on mission and how you succeed at your mission are God’s responsibilities. Your responsibility is to seek his guidance and obey his directions.