Come Follow Me for Teens: "He Shall Direct Thy Paths" (Proverbs and Ecclesiastes)

This week’s Come Follow Me for Teens episode studies Proverbs and Ecclesiastes with the theme “He Shall Direct Thy Paths.”

Across these books, we explore three connected truths about trusting God when we cannot see the whole path, when fear begins influencing our choices, and when the Lord’s timing is different from our own.

We begin with one of the most familiar verses in Proverbs:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

We explore the difference between using our understanding and relying on it so completely that we stop seeking God’s direction.

God expects us to think, learn, seek counsel, and make wise decisions. But our perspective is limited. We cannot see everything ahead of us, while God can.

Using a memorable connection to Star Wars, the Holland “wrong road” story, and Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s teaching that “the dots will connect,” we consider why God’s direction may not always make immediate sense.

Sometimes we pray, “Heavenly Father, direct my paths,” while secretly hoping He will direct us down the shortest, easiest road that already makes sense to us.

But the Lord promises to direct our paths. He does not promise that every part of the path will immediately be understandable.

We then turn to a phrase repeated throughout Proverbs:

“Fear the Lord.”

Godly fear does not mean being terrified of Heavenly Father. It means reverencing and trusting Him enough that His voice carries more weight than the opinions, pressures, and fears around us.