Life is a journey. At times everything can be going great and life’s good, but often there are times when life gives you a solid throat punch! In tough times we can often feel alone and without any sort of compass to guide us. The boy in the legend below is symbolic of you, of me, and what he discovers is an important reminder for all of us on our road to manhood.

There is rite-of-passage into adulthood story for a Cherokee Indian boy where his father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him, and leaves him alone. To pass the test, the boy is required to sit on a stump (or log) all night and not remove the blindfold until the morning sun shines through it.

He cannot cry out for help to anyone. If he survives the night, he is a man. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each youngster must come into manhood on his own.

Obviously, the boy is terrified. Being in the dark and blindfolded, his mind plays tricks on him. As the wind blows the grass and trees, he hears all kinds of noises. He thinks wild animals must surely be all around him. But he must sit still, no matter what, and never remove the blindfold. This is the only way he can become a man.

Finally, after a fearful night, the sun appears and he can remove his blindfold. Then…he discovers his father sitting next to him. Without the boy knowing, his father has been there the entire night, protecting him from anything that might cause harm.

Whether it’s true or not, or perhaps urban legend…it’s still a cool story and it has a very good lesson for all of us. Even though the Cherokee youth couldn’t see his father sitting next to him, his father was indeed there, ready to fight for his son. We, too, have our heavenly Father with us all the time. When we step into the adventure of following Jesus Christ we have to always remember that we are never truly alone!

Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9 (WEB)

…He (God) Himself has said, “I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. (I will) not…in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake nor let (you) down (relax My hold on you). Assuredly not!” -Hebrews 13:5b (AMP)

We are never alone, not matter how frightening our circumstances appear to be. Even when it doesn’t feel like it…God is watching over us, always protecting us and sitting on the stump right there beside us. When we’re afraid and feel alone, all we have to do is reach out to Him. He may not always give us the answer we want, but He is always present!

Men, we have to be intentional when it comes to stepping into our authentic manhood in Jesus Christ. There’s way too much life turbulence out there to just get by. We will fail or under deliver — as a husband or a dad if we don’t have a compass or some guideposts. If your life is to have purpose, then you must live it courageously from your heart men!

As Henry Ward Beecher so eloquently captures – difficulties are God’s errands and trainers, and only through them can one come to fullness of manhood. Are you ready to walk into the turbulence of life, face the night on that stump and trust that God will bring you through it all?