Proverbs 25:25
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a stranger.
While working in Mexico back in 1987, I remember this one experience I had. I believe it relates well to this proverb.
A group of American visitors had come to observe the works which we had established in some rural communities in the state of Hidalgo Mexico. However, for the safety of the visitors, we were forced to hike into this village community from the backside of the mountain. The hike was one before which I had never made, and I knew that it was going to be somewhat long.
Subsequently, I arranged to have a recommended guide to help direct us through the matrix of foot-trails that are woven across the vast mountain range. Nevertheless, we somehow got lost in this complex maze of footpaths. I remember we went around and around in circles, back to this same spot some three different times. After over four hours of hiking, we had lost confidence in our guide, and the group had become extremely exhausted and thirsty, mainly, because of the tropical heat and the intensity of the trails themselves. Finally, we happened to find under the dense jungle canopy, this large natural spring of very cold water pouring right out of the rock of the mountain. I remember at the time it felt like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!! We all just plunged into the cold pool of water like a herd of wild buffalo. It was unbelievably refreshing and invigorating.
As we returned to the journey, out of nowhere, this stranger met us on the trail and showed us the exact path that we needed to take! His words were as assuring as the words of an angel, and just as refreshing! As a result, of my lost faith in guides, I asked if he would personally direct us. To everyone’s great relief, he agreed. Within a short thirty minutes, we arrived at our destination, and were seated safely in my friend’s home drinking a cup a hot coffee and laughing about our adventure.
Sometimes life situations can appear to be this continuously revolving monotony that make us feel hopeless and despondent. As a result, we get tired and exhausted… and many times in our desperation we lose hope. Most of the time, these wave of emotions come upon us as a direct result of our own isolation and lack of communication with others on the outside. Other times, it just comes down to who our guide is.
I can’t tell you how many times that my vision has been revived, my soul encouraged, and my life put back on track…as a direct result of getting some “good advice” from a “new guide”. If your life feels lost and off track, stop going in circles down the same trail, thus rendering the same results! Get yourself a new guide, and thus put your life on a new path! There is no greater guide in life than God himself, and no surer purpose than the path upon which only he can put us.