Hidden Blessing in Hard Times. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Introduction:

You hear the name Rand McNally and immediately you think of roadmaps. Rand McNally is the world's largest commercial mapmaker. I recently saw an advertisement for Rand McNally that stated that Rand McNally and Company offers the most trusted tools to discover, map and navigate your world. Founded in 1856 and headquartered in Skokie, Illinois, its motto is, ''Rand McNally ... the most trusted name on the map.''This morning I want to share with you a roadmap for entering a new year filled with uncertainty, unfulfilled hopes and dreams. This is the most trusted roadmap ever given. Many a traveler has found it to be trustworthy and reliable. In fact, all who have followed it have never lost their way or deviated from the right path. All customers that have used it have been completely satisfied. It is a roadmap that will guide you through the New Year and for all life. The roadmap I am referring to is Proverbs 3:5-6.

I get the idea of a roadmap from the word ''ways'' in verse six. The word speaks of a road. We are all travelers on the highway of life and Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us a roadmap to guide us on our journey. As we look at this great and familiar text I want to point out three road signs that the text gives us to guide us.

Outline:

1. HOW TO MEET THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIFE

A) A Human Response to Difficulties

B) A Heavenly Resource for Difficulties

2. HOW TO MAINTAIN THE DEVOTION OF LIFE

A) Our Acquaintance with God

B) Our Awareness of God

3. HOW TO MAKE THE DECISIONS OF LIFE

A) Proper Paths

B) Prosperous Paths