The Road and the Wisdom of God

I have heard it said by Graham Cooke, and others, "God allows in His wisdom what He could prevent by His power."
I will not attempt to delve into the deep in this blog post, but rather focus on the Road.
There is a well known passage that has to do with the "narrow road". Does that ring a bell? I hear this quoted all the time that the "road is narrow". Actually, this passage, Matthew 7:13-14, in the New King James Version says this:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Interesting here that the "gate" is narrow, and the "road" is difficult. Another great verse about the road, Isaiah 42:16:

"I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known.
I will make darkness light before them,
And crooked places straight.
These things I will do for them,
And not forsake them."

There are many verses about the "hard" road, the "rocky" paths, etc., but what excites me is that Jesus is leading Israel, and us, through it. He is the one at the front line leading! He actually leads us through darkness, through trials, through rocky places, and it's His wisdom!

Many many years ago I had this amazing revelation that has really helped me through trials. I pictured myself climbing this steep mountain. The Lord showed me this like a documentary film being playing in my minds eye. In the picture, I had a harness around my waist and was trying to climb this perfectly smooth shiny mountain. I kept slipping and sliding all over the place.
Finally, the Lord said, "here, let me help you out," and a large rock appeared before me. I was able to grip it and use it to pull myself up higher. Then another rock appeared, and another, and so on. The Lord showed me that the rocky road is actually what gets us to the top.
Four years ago I was going through a battle of the mind, a war raging, and I set my heart on Him and remembered this revelation, and out of that season birthed this song:

"I just can't get off this road, I'm tired, I know
on the outside, I might look weary,
The signs are so clear,
but others are trying to get me to take the easy exits,
This road may be hard, but I'm not moving,
I got more strength in me than I ever knew and
Though it's narrow, I can see whats at the end of this rainbow."

I hope this encourages you to grab hold and embrace the journey, the difficult road, and enjoy the stretching, the tension, and the deep places that launch you higher! - gina

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18