Imagine planning a special bonding time with a son or daughter, or even a staff member. You’re looking to grow your relationship, to understand each other better, and you want to pour some wisdom into his or her life. You may choose a snow-boarding trip, a fishing weekend or a day at the beach. You want the young person to experience the trip moment by moment, so you keep the destination a secret. You know that if you tell that person where you’re going and what you’re going to do there, he’ll be focused on the destination and the activities while you travel, and not on the road trip—the journey with you.

In today’s reading of the devotional Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes this from the perspective of Jesus: “You would like to see a map, showing all the twists and turns of your journey… I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey.”

I know some of the stops on my journey today; I have a lot to accomplish. But even the schedule can’t always accurately dictate the way things actually transpire. Surprises will come, some good, some bad. I’ll be forced into detours or even backtracking to cover the same ground I’ve already traveled. But none of it is a surprise to the One who maps my journey. And He knows what I’ll need along the way, especially His presence, and He provides it all, without fail.

I can rest in that. I don’t, always. But I can.

So, as I prepare to take my younger son on a trip to the mountains tomorrow, he can rest assured that I’ll make the right decisions to ensure he is completely prepared with all he’ll need. But I may not tell him where we’re going or what we’ll do there. I want to spend the time with him, enjoying each other’s company, and for at least part of the journey, I want his full attention.