“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (Context: Isaiah 30:18-33)
As the year draws to a close, I wonder about the future. What new opportunities will the New Year bring and what decisions will I have to make? Some decisions can be hard, especially when they have long-term consequences. How can we make the right decision?
God promises in His Word that He has a plan for us and that He will guide us. When I begin to worry too much, I think back to the time I believe God clearly guided me. After medical school, I had to decide my area of specialization. I was set on pursuing Internal Medicine, but every time I would try to proceed with the application, Proverbs 14:12 would flash across my mind, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” As I prayed about it, I realized I was pursuing it for the wrong reasons. My alternative was Pathology. Pathologists make diagnoses based on tissue samples from patients, which decides treatment. I had loved Pathology in medical school, but hesitated as it is a behind-the-scenes kind of specialty and I am not exactly a behind-the-scenes kind of person. Though I initially missed the patient contact (or rather the recognition, admiration, and instant gratification) of Internal Medicine, as I spent time at the microscope, I realized God had equipped me for this field. I enjoyed examining tissues and making diagnoses. Every once in a while, I get to make a diagnosis that completely changes the direction of a patient’s care. I could not be happier, doing what God has called me to do, behind the scenes. I’m grateful God found a way to steer me onto the right path.
We are often confused and worried, but God does guide. He has promised to do so. Let us look forward to that!
Ruth Asirvatham
Ruth recently became a member of our Servants family. She moved here from Ann Arbor, MI a few months ago and has been attending since September. While she hasn’t yet found her place of service at Servants, she has a heart for ministering to the elderly and to single mothers.