The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth.” Isaiah 40:3-4, NKJV

Rough places show up everywhere: rough roads, rough days, rough people.

The Lord can and will, someday, smooth out all of these. I know, we would like for Him to do it now, starting with the rough people. That would be my method. If He would do things my way He would start with those (other) rough people, then maybe smooth out the rough days, and then, (why not, while we are at it), smooth out the rough roads too!

Thankfully, He does not do things my way. His way is to leave no rough places behind. And to do that, He starts at the source: the rough places in me! This is His marvelous method. He invites me to join Him in smoothing out the rough places around me, and when I do, a miracle happens! He gives me a servant’s attitude and a gracious response to those rough places—even the rough places in others. And in so doing, He smooths out the rough places in me!

Dear Lord, how wonderful are Your ways! Though they are far above, You share them with us as You are faithfully completing Your work in us. Thank You, Jesus!

Copyright Jere Vandewalle.

Jere is the Director of Operations for Christian Educators.