Preparing a Way

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40:3-4)

Isaiah prophesied about the one who would cry in the wilderness and remove spiritual debris, preparing the way for Jesus to come because God could not build His highway on unstable soil. John’s mission was to repair what was broken. He was called to cleanse and restore the hearts of people. Before Jesus’ ministry could be revealed, someone had to do the preparatory work. John was essentially a spiritual builder. His role was to tear down pride, confront sin, and call people to repentance. By doing so, he cleared a path for God’s glory to be revealed.

Isaiah wrote that the Lord needed a highway—a clear, straight, and widened pathway. A highway is essential for someone to reach their destination quickly and accomplish their goals fully. Before building a highway, the road must be prepared. God always sends a fixer before He moves. It was prophesied that John would begin the process of: Valleys (low places of shame, despair, depression) being lifted; Mountains (pride, rebellion, stubbornness) humbled; Crooked places (compromise, double-mindedness, secret sin) straightened; and Rough places (wounds, brokenness, bitterness) smoothed.

John’s ministry wasn’t about hype; it was about purpose. It wasn’t just about John—it’s about you and me too. The Lord wants to reveal His will in your life, but our job is to prepare the way by clearing what’s blocking the path.

Practical Application

Clear a path for God to move by doing your part. This involves recognizing the habits, attitudes, and compromises in our lives and committing to change them. Prepare the way so that God can move quickly and effectively.

Malachi 3:1; John 1:23