“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
—Exodus 13:21-22 NKJV

I knew there was a way to find it, I just didn’t know how—and finding my way back home would be even harder. In my growing-up years, Bauneg (sounds like “Bonny”) Beg Mountain* was all privately owned property. My brother and I had been lost more than once in its woods while ever in search of the infamous and elusive “Devil’s Den,” a craggy outcrop of caves and boulders on the top of the middle peak. From the late 1930s to the late 1950s, Bauneg Beg was home to the Bauneg Beg Ski Club, which drew skiers from all over the area. The ski area is long gone, and the mountain is now completely reforested, but its beautiful summit offers hikers stunning views of the White Mountains in one direction and the Atlantic coastline in the other.

Many years ago, one of our older neighbors, who owned a significant portion of this small mountain, welcomed me to explore the woods at any time. He told me that to find Devil’s Den and then find home again, I just needed to keep the sun to my back. It wasn’t quite the kind of directions I was expecting, but in time, by following them, I found it! And I also managed to find my way back home again. From that moment on, and for many years, it became my daily destination—my own secret getaway.

It would be fair to say that the Hebrews were on no small hike. They were in for a forty-year trek into unknown territory, without knowing what direction each day would take them. They were totally dependent on God to lead and sustain them at every step. And lead He did, in the most unconventional but most effective way—a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. Can you imagine having such a clear-cut set of directions?!

Do you ever wish that God would just put a pillar of fire and a cloud in front of you to tell you which way to go? Or that He’d have specific directions written down with your name on them? “Donna, go here! Turn there! Do this! Don’t do that!” Sometimes, we receive a direct answer and strong reassurance simply by praying once. At other times, we pray, and we pray, and we pray. We search the Scriptures, seek wise, godly counsel, and pray some more, and still the answer eludes us.

I’m learning that I have to be totally dependent on Him for absolutely everything at all times. In that dependence, He may give me a clear answer at first prayer. But, other times, I find it’s in the trusting—trusting Him enough to simply do the next thing in front of me and take the next step forward in faith—with the confidence that He. Is. There. He knows my heart and my desire to trust and obey and honor Him. In that, He often allows me to choose from the many good options He puts before me, knowing that in trusting, I will grow in my faith. I know that whether it’s a clear-cut direction from Him, or simply stepping out in faith, He will protect and provide for me from the start of my journey until my last step. Often, He leads me in ways that I was not expecting, but could not have been better suited if He’d written them out in ink and lit them up with flashing neon lights!

Thank You, Father, for Your perfect leading. Thank You for never leaving me alone to flounder and try to figure things out all by myself. I love You, Lord!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He shall direct your paths.
—Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

*Today, all three hills that make up the mountain are part of
The Great Works Regional Land Trust and is open daily for
public enjoyment. Marked trails lead hikers safely there and
back again. If you’re ever in the area, it is well worth the hike.

In Him,
Donna Perkins

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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