My 6 year old son loves mazes. Usually these are the pen and paper kind. Yesterday he learned firsthand what it was like to be in a real maze.

We arrived at the "maize maze". It was a carefully planned maze covering eight acres with ten foot high corn for walls. As an additional challenge, we were told there were seven objects to find.

When we went in, I let my son lead. He took great delight in choosing which way to go. I quietly followed, letting him go whichever way he wanted.

It didn't take long to find ourselves lost in the middle of the maze. My son soon became frustrated as we retraced steps, or kept coming back to the same place again and again. The paths and corn all looked the same. We found only one of the seven objects. At one point, we thought we were making progress only to find ourselves right back at the start.

At this point I stepped in. I told my son that I had a plan and that he had to trust me to get us through the maze. He let me take the lead, and I carefully followed the right wall of the maze. This technique took no shortcuts. It led us to lots of dead ends. But I knew mazes well enough to know we would find the end following this strategy. My son became frustrated that we weren't going ways he thought were better, but I knew taking them would mess up my plan. Systematically we found all seven objects and completed the maze.

As we drove home, he turned to me and said, "Dad, I guess you were right." That's a huge compliment from a six year old.

Can we have the same trust in our Heavenly Father?

Prayer: Our lives are a maze, Lord. Only by trusting in you, following your plan, and obeying the instructions you give in the Bible, can we find our way. Amen.

Not a typical call. More like a general expectation He would place on any parent. Jacob, however, was not a typical child. Moments before I heard this call the doctor had told me my two year old son was autistic. Despite my immediate grief and confusion, a part of me felt immense peace and clarity. I cannot explain the contradiction, except to say God was there telling me here was His purpose for me.

Time has tested this calling. I believe I have grown spiritually, learning to rely on God's guidance in helping my son. When government autism programs were unavailable, it led me to find private therapies that turned out to be more effective. Experienced people started approaching us first when we needed volunteers to work with Jacob. Parents and professionals now come to me to ask about the therapy we do with Jacob. Instead of sorrow and despair, I now have joy and hope in God.

Not a typical call. But a call nonetheless.

Jacob is learning steadily, but has a long way to go.

Judges 13:3-5 – The angel of the Lord appeared to [the wife of Manoah] and said, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, because you will conceive and give birth to a son [Samson]. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

Prayer: When I see You working around me it is a mystery too deep for my mind to understand, a revelation too wonderful for my heart to hold. Who am I that You reveal Your will before me? Who am I that Your will includes me? Where shall Your will lead me, Oh my Lord? Only You know, and in You will I trust. Amen.

As a Christian teenager, I heard this message a lot: God calls each of us. I've repeatedly sought His call for me over time, through university, embarking on a career, and starting a family. Yet when I asked Him, "what is my call?", I still heard back, "Please stand by".

I had no doubt I had a calling. Yet as gratifying as that was, it was also terrifying. I could imagine God one day presenting me with an IOU for His many favours rendered. Then He would require me to pay Him back by calling me to some difficult mission overseas. God had the right to ask this of me, but I would not like it. I'd have to uproot my family, abandon my career, and give up my lifestyle.

I recently heard the message again: God calls each of us. This time the emphasis was: He prepares us for our calling, calls us to something we want to do, and that call provides us opportunities for personal growth.

A week later God revealed to me His call for me. It was something I could do and something I passionately wanted to do. Six months later, He continues to confirm my calling by the opening of doors and by the maturing I've had to do to meet this call.

"Please stand by" until tomorrow's devotional to find out what my calling is.

Prayer: Lord, in Your time you accomplish all good things. I thank You that You include me as part of Your plan. Give me wisdom to accept that Your plan will unfold in its own time in ways known only to You. Give me patience to know that You will call me in time. Give me wisdom to know Your voice when I am called. Amen.