For we live by believing and not by seeing. II Corinthians 5:7 NLT

Just in case you hadn’t noticed, prices for anything we want or need to buy have absolutely skyrocketed. As there seems to be no end in sight, lots of people are seeking new ways to save. Thrift stores are doing a booming business. Discount food markets are seeing a new group of customers walking through the door as well. And some restaurants are seeing a decline in business.

Ken and I are no different. We’re looking for ways to stretch our budget and trying to make wiser choices regarding all our purchases, as well as using our most cost-effective vehicle for the majority of our driving. A hobby we latched onto last fall has blended well into our cost-saving plan. I believe I’ve mentioned that we really enjoy estate sales for a lot of reasons. Nice prices for slightly used goods when you shop carefully, top the list at present. And, of course, Ken gets ecstatic when he finds a cache of old rusty tools to restore. We’re learning that it’s important to take a good serving of self-control along with us. A bargain is only a bargain if you really need the item and have a constructive use for it.

A side benefit of these fun sales is discovering new communities all over the greater Springfield area. We’ve visited older neighborhoods of very traditional homes, many in need of repair or upgrade, but others lovingly maintained. There have been newer and quite affluent communities of large, modern homes. We’ve attended city sales and country sales, many of those on beautiful properties, and the drives to find them have been breathtaking in their spring colors. Each home has shown us its individual personality, but one thing has been a continuous thread between them all….we locate them with the miracle of GPS. What did we ever do without it?

We don’t even mind the “sweet” voice providing directions. I can only recall once when those directions were completely wrong and led us on a merry chase. But we finally put our common sense to good use and found our destination. Yes, there are those times when a miscommunication occurs between the two of us, and we may have been known to make a circle or two while en route, but cool heads always find a way.

By faith he (Moses) left Egypt… he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:27

The Global Positioning System is able to guide us to our earthly destinations with the aid of satellites, but how do we find our way through the tangled web of life? How do we survive the storms, celebrate the milestones, and cooperate with colleagues? How do we parent children and care for aging parents? What or who is our spiritual GPS?

Without the printed Word of God and a solid relationship with Jesus, we can’t possibly navigate this world we live in. Many have tried, and many have failed. Truth be told, we all have a tendency to try to do things our own way. It’s our very human nature. It isn’t easy to give up control, especially when our provider is invisible. But when we give everything in our lives to Jesus, He’s always right beside us. Often, He completely carries us. Our strength, our wisdom, and our mercy are all limited, but with Jesus in the driver’s seat (or as the voice on our spiritual GPS), we can do anything.

If we can put our trust in a sweet voice offering travel directions through our vehicle’s audio system, surely we can trust the Word of God and be able to put our hand in the hands of the one who worked countless miracles. Next time you find yourself at a crossroad, whose direction will you take?

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 NLT