For by grace, you have been saved through faith.

~Ephesians 5:25a NKJV

On my life’s journey, I never walk alone. Jesus walks with me, to guide me, help me, protect me, and even talk with me. Yet there are times when doubt, lies, and unbelief creep in and try to distract me from my walk with Him. Even in dreams, the enemy tries to change the path God set me on. Thus, was the case as I drifted into a daydream.

I came to a halt when I happened upon a fork in the road. To the left, the path was wide, calm, sunny, and inviting. Flowers adorned both sides. Birds were chirping, animals frolicking. A seemingly perfect path to follow. But ahead, the path veered around a huge rock that I could not see past. I heard faint sounds, like muffled yelling. Yet many people passed me, taking that path. They were smiling, laughing, some even turning to wave, attempting to persuade me to come with them. Person after person took this same path. But I stood, unsure which path to take.

To the right, the path was straight but no one else was on it. Maybe because the skies were overcast, giving it a darkened appearance. The winds whistled as it strewn leaves along the path like a brisk autumn day. Suddenly I jumped. Something bright shot across the path.

“What was that!” I said. 

This path gave me chills and seemed chaotic. But wait. Further down…

“Is that? Yes, it is!”

Angels with shields were standing at the ready.

“Lord,” I asked, “why are angels on this path and not the other? Or maybe they’re not really angels.”

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

~John 16:33b ESV

Confused, I turned back toward the wider path, until I heard a whisper, “Take the path less traveled.” I looked around. No one was there. I took another step, and again I heard, “Take the path less traveled.”

I tried to argue, stating how calm and peaceful the other path looked and how many other people were going that way. Then I laughed at myself, “Who on earth am I arguing with?”

A sudden wind blew small sticks around, and one hit me on the head.

“Okay, I get it!” I said.

I walked back to the narrow path. Hidden partially behind a bush, I noticed a sign, Fidem. That is the Latin word for faith.

“Faith? Angels? I don’t understand it, but something inside me is telling me to take this one,” I said, moving forward.

I took a deep breath and stepped onto the path. Seeing the angels were still there, I quickened my pace. Glancing around, it was frightening. I now questioned my choice.

Halfway to the angels, big, ugly creatures with glowing eyes came from behind the trees. Drooling and growling, they sprinted toward me. I turned to run, but a fiery arrow pierced my arm. I gasped in pain. Another one stuck me in the neck. A third in my leg. I fell to the ground while the creatures closed in.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

~2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

I cried out, “Jesus! Help me!”

In one blink, the angels surrounded me with their shields up, deflecting the rest of the arrows. Other angels ran past me to battle the creatures. One angel pointed up the path to where Jesus stood. Holding out his hand, I ran to my Lord as fast as I could.

Watching the ongoing battle, Jesus said, “My angels are always ready to help those who cry out to me.”  

After the angels defeated the creatures, the sun came out and burned away the overcasting clouds. Now the path looked beautiful, even more so than the wide path.

Jesus looked straight at me and said, “No matter what happens on your journey, I will never leave you. Remember, it is not by sight that you walk. It is by faith in Me that will get you to your destination. That is why all are given a choice of which path to choose.”

We rounded a bend and could see the other path. Creatures were there too, firing their arrows, causing pain among the unsuspecting people. The awful noise I heard was the groanings of those who were being hurt. The worst part is they were all walking, wandering, and alone.

We cannot walk by only what we see, and expect to prosper; our lives belong to the One who made us.

~Sandra Stein, contributing author to Love Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships

Friend, we are wise to choose the path of faith rather than only what we can see and touch. Rather than being influenced by fun and friends, choose faith–fidem–and follow the lead of the One who is with you, died for you, and came to save you.

Jesus’ message to me in this dream was clear. We cannot walk by only what we see and expect to prosper; our lives belong to the One who made us. When we choose faith in Jesus Christ, we have the assurance that no matter what we encounter on our journey, He will be with us every step of the way, securing our future.

Are you believing in what you can or cannot see?

Father God, it is easy to put my faith in things I can see with my eyes. But what I can see speaks of the temporal, worldly realm. Teach me to put my faith in what I cannot see–hope, grace, mercy, and love–which are attributes of Your divine nature. The foundation under everything that makes life worth living is faith in the finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ. It is in Him that I choose to abide.

In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2021: The Path Less Traveled: Sandra Stein: All Rights Reserved

Meet Our Contributor

SANDRA STEIN

Sandra Stein is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, and a contributing author to Love Knots: Stories of Faith, Family, and Friendships (VineWords Publishing).

She is published at Vista Magazine (Wesleyan Publishing) and Victory in Grace Magazine (Wesleyan Publishing). She is a contributing author to the devotionals, Take My Heart O God (Zondervan) and Heaven Calling (Zondervan).

Sandra’s work-in-progress is a victim-to-victory true story entitled, Emotionally Uphill. Having been subject to abuse both inside and outside of her home, Sandra felt she had no safe place—that is, until she met Jesus Christ, the Lover of her soul. This book intends to help the reader overcome trauma as Sandra did, by clinging to the One who loves with an everlasting and divine love—Jesus Christ.

Sandra’s heart’s desire is to open a ranch to people who have been bullied or abused, to provide them a place to belong. She envisions emotional and spiritual healings happening through the gentle interaction animals can provide. With her experience as a dog trainer and with horses, she has a vision for combining her love of animals with her passion to help people.

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