For the unfamiliar road (a printable)

You know that road?

The one you don't seek out. Instead, you find yourself on it. Where you look around and don’t recognize anything.

You’ve never been down it before. You can’t see what’s ahead. And the road itself - something about the road - is lonely and dark, and deep down your heart hurts.

It hurts because your questions are still unanswered. .
A sickness just won't improve.
A relationship just won't heal.
The money just won't come in.
The baby just won't stop crying.

It appears as if things are going to stay the way they are forever and the biggest question is how on earth you could tolerate that.

So like every human, you teeter on the edge of panic, mustering that valiant human effort to hold yourself together.
Look for the silver lining.
Keep calm and carry on. 

I've tried that too. Mustering it up. We women are good at that. But once, I tried listening.

And in a dark place, God gave me this verse.

I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know.

In paths they have not known I will guide them.

I will turn darkness before them into light,

The rough places into level ground.

These are the things I do,

And I do not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16

It’s a fantastic promise. Its words have comforted me many times in the last couple of years. I’ve since committed it to memory so my heart can reach for it at any time. But what never ceases to stop me is the last pair of lines:

God says, “These are the things I do.” Not, “These are the things I will do," or,"These are the things I am doing.” He is not promising a particular action for a particular moment.

He is saying, “This is who I Am. This is how I roll.”

What He does is lead us on those roads we’ve never been down.


What He does is guide us with love and with truth.


What He does is bring light into our darkness.


What He does is level the ground so that we can walk securely.

And in case we’ve forgotten, He seals it with a reminder:  “I’m not going anywhere either.”

What He does is promise us Himself.

"I will not forsake you.

No matter how much you fight me.

No matter how often, in your discomfort and blindness, you sit down, stop walking, and pout about the unfamiliar road. 

When you’re angry with me.

When you decide I don’t have your best interest in mind.

When you try to grab back what you've surrendered.

When you question every good thing I’ve given.

When you turn your back on me to embrace your fears.

When you provoke me to my face.

I will not forsake you.

And when you’re ready to stand back up, I'll be holding out my hand.

When you’re ready to listen, I'll be speaking.

And I will outwait you.

Just try me.

My patience runs deeper and my love is greater than you could possibly understand.

This is how I roll.


The fierceness of His loyalty keeps me walking.

The whisper of His favor keeps me brave. 

Here is a printable for you, made iPhone-sized, by my pal Julie.

Pin it to your bulletin board, or save it to your phone

in case you someday need a reminder of

His loyalty and His love

to help you take another step.