Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Trusting the Journey, Not Just the Destination

Scripture Focus:

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

— John 14:5–6

When the Road Feels Unclear

Have you ever read a verse in the Bible and thought, “What does this even mean?”

Have you ever sat in church, listening to a message that seemed powerful—but you couldn’t quite grasp it?

You’re not alone.

Even the disciples—those who walked with Jesus daily—had moments of confusion. Thomas gives voice to what many of us feel but are sometimes afraid to say:

“Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”

In John 14, Jesus is speaking deep truth. He’s offering comfort, revealing eternal realities, and pointing toward the Father. But Thomas isn’t tracking. It doesn’t make sense to him—and rather than pretending to understand, he speaks up.

And here’s the good news: Jesus doesn’t rebuke him. He answers him.

You Can Ask Questions

There’s a lie many Christians silently carry—that real faith means never doubting, never questioning, and always understanding. But that’s not what Jesus modeled. Throughout Scripture, God meets people in their questions.

Jesus didn’t dismiss Thomas. He didn’t say, “You should know better.”

Instead, He revealed more of Himself.

You see, when we bring our honest confusion to Jesus, we don’t offend Him.

We invite Him closer.

James 1:5 reminds us:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

That means when you lack clarity—when the Word doesn’t make sense, when life feels overwhelming—you can ask.

And our God, rich in mercy and wisdom, will respond generously.

Jesus Is More Than the Key

When Jesus responds to Thomas, He says:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

This is one of the most quoted verses in the entire Bible. We often hear it in evangelism or discussions about Heaven. We treat it like a key to a locked door—Jesus is our way into eternal life.

That’s true.

But it’s also incomplete.

Jesus is not just the key.

He is the door (John 10:9).

He is the path (John 14:6).

He is the destination (Revelation 21:3).

In other words: Jesus is everything.

Jesus Is Your GPS

Let’s bring it down to real life for a moment.

Have you ever taken a road trip using a GPS app like Waze or Google Maps? You plug in the destination, and the app gives you turn-by-turn directions. It reroutes you if there’s traffic. It warns you of obstacles or accidents ahead. Sometimes it even tells you to slow down if you’re speeding.

Recently, I drove from my home to Ohio. I used my Waze app the entire way. I love that it doesn’t just show me where I’m going—it gives me updates, warnings, and guidance. If there’s a tire in the road or a cop hiding behind a sign, Waze alerts me. If I make a wrong turn, it reroutes me. It doesn’t scold me—it just helps me get back on course.

That’s exactly how Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, leads us.

• He shows us where we’re going.
• He warns us when danger is ahead.
• He corrects us when we’re off path.
• He reroutes us when we take a wrong turn.

The Holy Spirit is our divine navigator. When Jesus said, “I am the way,” He wasn’t just saying, “I’m the final destination.” He was saying, “Follow Me step by step.”

Faith Isn’t Just for Someday

Many Christians treat Jesus like a golden ticket to Heaven.

“Accept Him, and you’ll be saved.” ✔️

And yes—that’s true. But Jesus didn’t come just to get you to Heaven.

He came so you could live in Him now.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” — John 10:10

That means your relationship with Jesus isn’t meant to begin on the other side of eternity—it’s meant to start today.

• Are you following His voice?
• Are you letting Him lead you daily?
• Are you responding to His warnings and reroutes?

Eternal life begins when you surrender to Jesus, not when your heart stops beating. Heaven is not only your future—it’s your present when you’re walking with the King.

He Reveals the Way as You Move

Here’s what I love about Jesus’ metaphor:

A way, by definition, requires movement.

You can’t follow a path standing still.

You can’t reach your destination parked in one place.

When Jesus says, “I am the way,” He is calling you to walk with Him.

• Not run ahead.
• Not camp out.
• Not try to find your own shortcut.

You walk. With Him. One step at a time.

Sometimes we get frustrated because we want God to lay out the entire journey at once. But He usually doesn’t.

Instead, He says:

“Trust Me for the next step.”

Like the Waze app, Jesus gives us direction as we go. If you’re not hearing where to go next, maybe it’s because you’re not moving. Start walking in obedience—and He’ll guide you as you go.

He Knows the Obstacles Ahead

Here’s what else I love about the GPS metaphor:

It doesn’t just tell you how to get there—it alerts you when danger is near.

Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, does the same.

He whispers:

• “Slow down.”
• “Take this turn instead.”
• “Be careful here.”
• “Don’t rush this relationship.”
• “Avoid that opportunity—it looks good, but it’s a trap.”

When you’re tuned in, He can save you from unnecessary pain.

When you obey His prompts, even when they don’t make sense, He will lead you well.

The question is: Are you listening?

What Do You Need to Let Go Of?

Some of us aren’t moving forward because we’re holding on to the wrong things.

To follow Jesus, we have to let go of:

• Control – Trying to map out our own life instead of trusting His plan.
• Comfort – Staying in what’s familiar rather than stepping into what’s faithful.
• Fear – Worrying about what’s around the bend instead of trusting the Guide.
• Sin – Choosing our own path rather than surrendering to His.

What do you need to release today?

Maybe it’s a relationship, a habit, a fear, or a dream you’ve been clinging to.

Jesus wants to lead you—but He won’t drag you. You have to let go and follow.

What Course Correction Do You Need?

If you’ve ever missed a turn on a GPS, you know what happens. The voice doesn’t scream at you. It simply says, “Rerouting.”

That’s how grace works.

Even when you miss it, God can reroute you. He doesn’t give up on you. He simply says, “Let’s find another way to get you back on course.”

Maybe you’ve taken some detours in life. Maybe you’ve disobeyed, doubted, or drifted. You don’t need to stay stuck in shame.

You just need to say, “Lord, I’m ready to get back on track.”

He will meet you right there, course-correct you, and lead you again.

Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Let’s not forget the full verse:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

• The Way — Direction for your journey
• The Truth — Foundation for your beliefs
• The Life — Fulfillment for your soul

He’s not just the beginning of your faith story. He’s the middle and the end, too.

He’s not just a teacher of truth—He is the Truth.

He’s not just the giver of life—He is Life itself.

And when you follow Him, you have all you need.

Will You Trust Him Today?

Following Jesus isn’t always easy. The road has twists, turns, and unexpected detours.

But the promise is sure: He is with you. He is the Way.

So today, ask yourself:

• Am I trying to map my own route?
• Am I waiting for Jesus to be my someday Savior instead of my today Guide?
• Do I need to let go of control or comfort?
• Do I need a course correction?

You don’t have to figure it all out today.

You just need to take one step of obedience in the direction He’s pointing.

Because Jesus is not just a door you unlock once.

He’s the daily path you walk.

Final Thought: Let the Journey Begin

Jesus never promises the road will be easy, but He promises it will be worth it.

He promises Himself.

So when you don’t know where to go…

When you feel lost…

When life doesn’t make sense…

When the Word seems confusing…

Just do what Thomas did.

Ask. Listen. Follow.

Jesus will lead you. He is the Way.

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