Would God lead me into the valley of death?

Does God's will always lead us to safety and security or does He sometimes lead us into trials and hardship?  I was reading Acts 21 today and writing in the discussions in Chapter of The Day groups about the leading of the Holy Spirit and find it an interesting study in determining God's will.  Paul, being led by the Holy Spirit is focused on completing the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. It has been obvious from the start of his amazing journey that he has followed the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Yet prophets and others are not only warning him but forbidding him to go to Jerusalem because of the danger there.Sometimes the counsel of friends, even well meaning friends, filtered through their fears and desire for safety, can actually be counter productive. Those who commit to going on mission trips often times find that the biggest hurdles are their friends and relatives who try to dissuade them from going because they are concerned for their safety.We in the west have an unhealthy regard for security. The early Christians and the heroes of faith were willing to put their lives on the line for Christ. Today it is hard to get believers to go into an unknown neighborhood because it might not be safe. How willing are you to sacrifice for the sake of Christ? Where are you not willing to go, to share God's love? 

Posted via email from John Walter's Life Stream