The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. (Psa 37:23-24NKJ)

As we walk on this journey of life, a journey of faith and this journey through Lent, you soon discover that all because our steps are ordered of the Lord, there is no guarantee that the pathway will be straight, flat and without its pitfalls.

When I was about ten, my parents sent me for swimming lessons (without success). On one occasion we were all standing around the pool being given instruction. Very close to my feet was the inlet valve, the pressure from which pushed my feet away, and under the water, I went. I remember the instructor’s hand coming down and grabbing a handful of hair, pulled me to safety. There have been other times when I almost fell, and the Lord’s hand grabbed me and pulled me up.

Not every pathway is of the Lord, Proverbs tells us, “For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; (Pro 2:6-13 NKJ)