Fog, unlike other weather phenomenon’s gives me pause… a feeling of closeness. This morning when we woke at Lake Conway we were covered in fog. As I looked toward the lake, I noticed what I didn’t see…millions of stumps. Most of the stumps will be underwater when the lake is refilled. But the stumps are there and they don’t move.

I have come to recognize we live in fog. Yes, we are the most well-informed, well-educated people in history. But, in reality, we have no idea what’s out there… what tomorrow will bring. We may think we know where the stumps are located, but in the fog life…. BAM!

We can do as some boaters do and “try” to power through the fog of life hoping not to hit a stump. But sooner or later we will hit a stump.

Stumps can make noise, cause minor damage & distraction, and slow us down. These are the stumps of disrespect, being overlooked, cut off in traffic, and being offended. Painful, but not life changing. But then there are the stumps that stop us dead in the water with names like cancer, bankruptcy, divorce, unemployed, betrayed, alone, hopeless and death.

Since I’ve been enrolled in God School, I’ve learned He places us in the Lake of Life. He gives us a choice. We can go our own way and do our best, or we can follow His Way that will take us across the lake in a boat that will not sink. It’s just that simple.

You & I know already know that the DIY choice results in anxiety, fear, hopelessness and eventually failure. The DIY bookshelves are filled with “How To…” books written by failed authors. But God, the Creator of all life wrote His “How To” book called the Bible. It’s the perfect plan. Unlike any other book, it’s guaranteed with the blood of His Son, Jesus.

We find a great example God’s Plan in Joshua. In Joshua 1, God pulled His Servant/Leader aside and pointed across the River Jordan. He told Joshua, “Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” (Joshua 1:2-3). The Promise Land had many stumps…stumps that could sink them. God told Joshua in verse 7-8 how to deal with the stumps he and the people would encounter. ““Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” God guaranteed His plan would work, “IF” they followed it.

So, did it work? At the end of Joshua’s life Joshua reminded the people, “you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God has promised concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.” (Joshua 23:14)

So, how do we face the fog-of-life? The Amplified translation of Joshau 23:8 says it best, “But you are to cling to the Lord your God, just as you have done to this day.” CLING to the LORD your GOD! Only God knows where the stumps are located. Only God can get you off the stump when your boat is stuck. Only God can repair your boat and make it seaworthy. In short, there is no other way across the lake without Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus told us “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Who do you trust in the fog? WHO are you clinging to?