Hardly anyone would disagree with the opening words of M. Scott Peck’s book The Road Less Traveled (1978): “Life is difficult.” It certainly is. The reason life is difficult is because we each travel the road of sin. Yet we have a choice. Each day we choose to take the well-worn, sinful path or the less-traveled, upright path.

God knows our depraved hearts and sinful tendencies. He knows that “we all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). He sees into the workings of our minds and knows that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

The good news for us here and now is that the little Baby born in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago is our Shepherd. He’s the One who guides us and who laid down His life for us. He knows that sin’s pull on our hearts makes life hard for us and sends us down paths of regret. But as our Shepherd, He promises to lead us in paths of righteousness. We follow Him. And we find peace for our restless souls.