FULLY EQUIPPED FOR THE JOURNEY
While reading a short devotional recently (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young), I came across a statement that captured my attention. As you may know, she writes this devotional from the perspective of what Jesus would say to her on any given day. What caught my eye was this:
“Let Me prepare you for the day that stretches out before you. I know exactly what this day will contain, whereas you have only vague ideas about it… I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey.”
Immediately, my mind went back to years of wilderness camping with my husband Dave. He should have been born with a tattoo that said, “Be Prepared!” His idea of a really great summer vacation was to spend two weeks planning and preparing, 10 days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Canada, and another two weeks cleaning up and packing away all the equipment.
Now, understand that we’re not talking about the kind of camping you do in a lovely RV in one of those civilized campgrounds. Oh, no! That would be too simple! We owned 8 canoes and about a dozen tents, to say nothing of all the cook kits and miscellaneous things you need for wilderness camping! We planned meals, gathered dehydrated foods, packed containers of meals, pots & pans, sleeping bags, tents, life jackets & paddles, canoes, and an average of 35 teenagers!! We drove about 12 hours to the outfitter on the Gunflint Trail and proceeded to load it all into our canoes and paddle for 28 miles (two days) to our lovely campsite in the wilderness. Cooking on a fire, sleeping on the ground in a tent, fishing, swimming, washing dishes in the lake…sounds like fun…for some of us!
Before we left home on that 10-day adventure, Dave had a vague idea of all the things that could possibly happen to those kids while in the wilderness, 100 miles from the nearest hospital. He anticipated every remote eventuality and planned for it. He trained as an EMT-D and worked on an ambulance to be ready for any medical emergency. By the time we were ready to load the canoes, we had packed absolutely everything but the kitchen sink….and a pot big enough to serve as that! Because I had no idea of the ropes and tools and equipment we might need, I was frustrated with having to drag so much along with us.
As I remembered with a smile, I realized that sometimes our journey through life is a lot like preparing for a camping trip with Dave! It seems that the Lord is so thorough about the tools, gifts, and spiritual training He pours into us that we want to say, “Enough already! Do I really need all this?” The answer from His perspective would be, “Yes, you really do need all this preparation for what I’m calling you to do.”
As I look back over my life (and it’s been a rather long one), I can see that God has equipped and prepared me in a variety of seasons with many special tools. While I had only a vague idea of what my life might hold, God knew every detail. The Scripture says in Ephesians 2:10 that God has created good deeds ahead of time and intends for me to walk in them. The last piece of my equipping to lead a ministry for widows was my most difficult. But here we are….each of us prepared and fully equipped to walk in those things God has already laid out for us!
2 Peter 1:3 says this, “…seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
In His amazing omniscience, God has always known every detail of every event that would come into each of our lives. When I couldn’t figure which way was up, He knew exactly what I would need. He made sure I took the right classes, read the right books, had the right jobs, and met all the right people who would make crucial deposits into my life.
And guess what?! He has done the same for you! Take a few minutes to look back over your life to see what He’s sent along with you. What has He given you for the journey? Nothing in your life has ever been a surprise to God, although sometimes you may not have seen it coming. He has fully equipped you to deal with whatever you are called to face.
Hebrews 13:20 says the following, “Now may the God of peace equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us[a] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” That is a promise you can lean into!
Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments. You never know when you might be a great encouragement to someone. Email me at sheryl@freshhope.us
English 
Spanish
2 Comments
This brings so much comfort to me. My journey has been difficult and I thought about what this coming year will hold. My brother is now living with me and he is struggling with congestive heart failure. Just using that heart term makes me sad. All of this is not a surprise to Abba. I am equipped with everything good thing I need today. Also as the time has gone by and the girls and I have traveled to two places Mark lived, we have built and small altar of Remembrance to the Father for Marks life leaving little glass globs and painted stones in a Sacred place In thankfulness. There is one more place to travel to and that place is in Rugen Germany where the chalk cliffs are. Mark wanted to retire there! Getting there has been the problem. Mark also loved camping and sleeping under the stars so in Rugen that’s where his final resting place will be. The journey continues as character development for me, perseverance is key and the joy of the Lord is my STRENGTH. Thanks for your inspiring post!
So true as we look back to see how the Lord designed it all to prepare us now. Nothing is too small or overlooked. He sees and knows it all ahead of time. Loved reading the description of Dave’s camping readiness. ❤️