Walking by Lamplight: Why God Doesn’t Give Us a GPS
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105
I've lived enough life to know that the path rarely unfolds the way I expect. And yet, I still find myself wanting certainty—some kind of divine GPS that tells me when to turn, what to avoid, and what time I’ll arrive at the destination. I want clarity, not ambiguity. A roadmap, not mystery. But God, in His wisdom, doesn’t offer GPS. He offers something subtler—and more profound: a lamp.
The Illusion of Control
Like many of us, I’ve wanted to know how things end—especially in moments of crisis. After my heart attack, I wanted assurance: “Will I live long enough to fulfill my purpose? Will my health improve?” These are not just medical questions; they’re soul-deep cries for control in the midst of chaos.
And yet, even in that ICU, there was no GPS. Just a lamp. Just enough peace to trust Jesus with the next breath, the next step. And it changed everything.
The Trap of the Planning Map
In the prayer session that inspired this reflection, the speaker described following a GPS that led him down a dried-up creek bed—a road that never existed in reality, only on a planning map. That story hit home. How often have I followed the false confidence of my own plans or leaned on someone else’s map, only to find myself stranded?
Early in my professional life, I followed what looked like a successful route: elite education, investment banking, material success. But beneath the surface, I was increasingly off course—thriving externally, but empty internally. I was following a map drawn by ambition, not illumination.
God’s Lamp: Faith Over Foresight
Psalm 119 doesn’t say that God’s word is a floodlight or a drone’s-eye view. It says His word is a lamp—something that lights up just enough for the next step.
This has become one of the most humbling and liberating truths of my life.
When I launched The Wisdom Ratio, I didn’t know what it would become. I only knew it was a next step toward aligning my gifts with God’s purposes—writing, advising, reflecting. It didn’t come with a five-year plan or a projected outcome. Just a lamp. And I walked.
When I responded to God’s call to serve through the Vincent DePaul Society, or opened my heart to healing fractured relationships, or faced the uncertainty of my recent CRT surgery—I wasn’t given clarity. I was given peace. Just enough light for one more step.
Where I’ve Wanted a GPS
I confess, there are times when I still crave certainty. I want to know:
Will I need a heart transplant?
Will this person ever change?
When will this investment or project bear fruit?
And in those moments, I hear the whisper of the Spirit reminding me: “You don’t need to see the finish line. You just need to follow the light I’ve given you.”
Wisdom in the Walking
The Wisdom Ratio is built on discernment, stewardship, and Spirit-led living. But I’ve come to see that wisdom is not a guarantee of outcome—it’s a way of walking. It’s the courage to trust the lamp, not demand a map.
When we walk by lamplight:
We move slower.
We stay more attentive.
We rely more deeply on the One holding the lamp.
And ironically, we make fewer wrong turns.
A Simple Practice
Here’s something I now try to ask myself each day:
💡 What is the next faithful step God is illuminating for me today?
Not ten steps ahead. Not the finish line. Just the next right step.
Try it. It’s enough.
Final Thoughts: Trust the Lamp
Maybe you’re in a season of waiting. Or you're standing at a fork in the road, desperate for a GPS voice to tell you which way to go. I’ve been there. I still go there. But I’m learning that God rarely gives us full directions. Instead, He gives us Himself. And His word—like a lamp—is always enough for the journey.
Take the step. Then another. And another.
Before long, you’ll find yourself exactly where God wants you to be.
🔗 Let this be your prayer today:
“Lord, teach me to walk by your light, not by my plans.
Help me to trust the lamp You’ve placed before my feet.
And let every step I take bring me closer to You.”
