The Winding Path

Over the last couple of years, I have been exploring much more of the Cornish coast path, with its spectacular beauty and majestic coastline. On a recent walk near Rinsey, not too far from where we live in Porthleven, I came across this winding path. It’s not uncommon to have twists and turns like this and parts of the coast path are very challenging!

It caused me to the think of the lyrics of a beautiful old hymn ‘All the way my Saviour leads me’, and part of the second verse in particular:

’All the way my Saviour leads me, Cheers each winding path I tread’.  

When she was only six weeks old, Fanny Crosby lost her sight because of a doctor’s error. “I have always believed,” she said, “that the good Lord, in His infinite mercy, by this means consecrated me to the work that I am still permitted to do.” And generations of hymn singers have been blessed by Crosby’s wonderful hymn full of truth through the years. This hymn was written in 1875 and has been enjoyed by countless worshippers since.

All the Way My Saviour Leads Me

Verse 1

All the way my Saviour leads me;
What have I to ask beside
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know what ‘er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

The first verse reminds us that God has been leading us through life and won’t fail us. ‘We are walking by faith and not by sight’ as 2 Corinthians 5:7 says and He knows what lies ahead and we can trust Him.

Verse 2

All the way my Saviour leads me;
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread;
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

This is the verse that came to mind as I walked. It reminded me that the path of life is often winding, undulating, sometimes shaky beneath our feet, sometimes with unexpected detours and changes of direction, but in it all as we put our trust in the Lord he has promised to lead us and guide us. We just need to keep on walking one step at a time.

Psalm 16:11 says ‘You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy’.  

And then the third verse talks about the promise of heaven, our ultimate destination, and our testimony that Jesus led us all the way!

Verse3

All the way my Saviour leads me;
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above;
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.