Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Bible in a Year: Psalms 143-145 | James 5

We lived in the mountainous area of East County, San Diego, before escaping to the waters of North County. We were in search of something and used our GPS for guidance. Those were the days when trusting that particular piece of technology was occasionally risky, but we continued driving up that mountain road because the directions said to. 

The paved road quickly turned into a narrow, gravel-and-dirt death trap without any railings. Erica, my wife, slowly turned the Jeep around while I served as the boundary line between road and air. One bump would’ve stopped this story from being shared. 

Sometimes, life can feel the same way. Just because we’re following directions doesn’t mean we’re on the right path. 

We move forward with confidence, doing our best, trusting our instincts … only to realize we’ve ended up somewhere we never intended to be. 

Matthew 7:13-14
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

We don’t always choose the path that leads to life. That’s the tension we live in. No matter how bad you may want to, you’ll never find the right way on your own.

So what happens when our best isn’t enough to get us back on track? 

That’s exactly where Jesus meets us. He doesn’t ask us to find the way on our own; he becomes the way for us. 

Through his sacrifice, Jesus closed the gap between God and us. 

Ephesians 2:13
But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Even though God’s love is constant, we can feel distant when confusion, guilt, shame, or old habits cloud our perspective. But distance doesn’t mean disconnection. 

The invitation is to turn to the One who already made a way. Be honest about where you are, surrender what you can’t fix, and trust that Jesus has already closed the gap.

Questions:
Even after knowing that nothing can reopen the gap between us and God’s love, why do you sometimes feel separated? 

What sacrifices are you willing to make to stop following your own path and show you want the relationship God offers?

Next Steps:
You’ve been forgiven, now return to God’s family by being honest with him and others about the past, your doubts, and regrets. Break old habits by introducing new ones, like journaling, studying Scripture, and surrounding yourself with positive people and influences.

Prayer: 
Jesus, help me see your resurrection as more than a story. Help me see and experience its power in my life. Restore what is broken in me. Replace my fear with faith. Help me seek you for what I need, more than what I want. Amen. 

Series Theme Verse:

Ephesians 1:5
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

This post was written by Jaron Camp, a Findlay attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.