I hate feeling lost. I love leading.
Recently, I found myself in an environment where I had zero familiarity—a dance competition for my daughter. Let’s just say I’m not exactly a seasoned “dance dad.” I showed up feeling like I had been dropped behind enemy lines with no map. The dance world has its own rhythms, unwritten rules, and backstage chaos, and I had no idea how to navigate it. Especially as a dude in a sea of ladies.
Thankfully, my friend Kaylee was there! She’s an experienced dance mom who knew the drill and possesses all the necessary skills to prep a dancer for competition. Hair skills, check. Make up touch-ups, check. Warm up routines, check. Pep talks, check.
She guided us through the day, explaining where to go and what to do. As much as I like to lead and feel confident in my surroundings, I found myself leaning entirely on her. At one moment, she disappeared to help the girls, and I felt utterly lost. My confidence evaporated, and I was left scanning the lobby, unsure of my next move. The only thing that kept me grounded? My phone. I knew that if I needed Kaylee, I could send a quick text, and she’d guide me back to where I needed to be.
That small moment of uncertainty led me to reflect on what it means to follow Jesus.
Following Jesus vs. Following People
That day, Kaylee was my guide, and because of her, I felt comfortable in an unfamiliar place. At times, following Jesus feels like that—His presence brings peace, and His direction is clear. But often, it’s not like that at all. Sometimes, He seems distant. The way forward is unclear. And when that happens, we tend to cling to other things—our own wisdom, other leaders, or even tangible idols, much like the Israelites worshipping the golden calf when Moses seemed to be taking too long (Exodus 32:1).
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that following Jesus is radically different from following people. Human leaders, no matter how competent or present, will eventually disappoint us. They’re imperfect, and their guidance—even if well-intentioned—can fail. But Jesus never does.
Good Intention, Bad Counsel
Right after the reflection above, another memory came into my mind in that dance hallway—one from the fall of 2023, a season of painful suffering and deep struggle for me. In the middle of that season, I sat with a counselor I trust, unpacking both the physical and spiritual elements with him. At one point, he suggested something I never expected: “You should take dance lessons with your wife.” Not exactly a piece of counsel I expected from a therapist!
I appreciated the sentiment of the counsel. Maybe I would have been more prepared for the dance weekend! But in that moment in the counselors office, it rang hollow. How could I possible go dancing with my wife in the shape I was in? Even the best human advice, given at the wrong time, can miss the mark.
It’s strange to me that’s the memory that came into my mind in the lobby of the dance competition. Unknown environments—not just physically unfamiliar places, but seasons of life where Jesus feels distant—are connected in my mind, and likely yours. And the the truth is, Jesus always leading, even when He seems silent. And in those moments, we can embrace the unknown with confidence, trusting that He is guiding us even when we can’t see it.
Why? The Holy Spirit dwells in us. Jesus is closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). Even when we don’t feel His presence, He is leading us with certainty because of His perfection and His eternal nature.
The Best Guide
I don’t want to be too hard on my counselor – he was EXTREMELY helpful in several sessions. And I’m very grateful for the role he played in my life during that season.
We need both wise human counsel and the perfect counsel of Jesus. People can and should guide us. Experienced leaders are valuable. But even the best, most competent, and most well-intentioned people can steer us wrong. Jesus never will.
So, when we find ourselves in unfamiliar places—whether a literal dance competition, a season of uncertainty, or a spiritual wilderness—we don’t have to panic. We don’t have to grasp for control. We don’t have to look for a golden calf. We have a perfect, present, and trustworthy guide. And He uses fallen people to give us help.
Even when He seems silent, He is leading. And we can trust Him in the unknown.
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