We don’t know much about the Magi. Matthew only tells us that they were “wise men” from “the east.” Although they tend to show up as a group of three in Nativity scenes, we don’t know exactly how many of them there were. We can make a guess as to their place of origin—perhaps Babylon—but we don’t know exactly how long their journey was either. Estimates range from 400 to over 1000 miles and from a month to several years. But we do know how they were guided on their journey: by a divinely provided star.

There are times I wish God would provide me a star for guidance. Life contains so many choices to make, so many paths to take, and often I’m not quite sure if I’m on the right path or not. We all have those low times in our lives when we wonder whether God really still loves us, whether we are still worthy to be called his child, whether any good can come out of the trials and tribulations we’re experiencing. Where’s our star in those moments? Where’s our assurance that God is indeed with us every step of the way?

Thankfully, God does provide assurance that he is with us on our journey through this life, even if we can’t always see his presence. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This verse doesn’t mean that we’ll always make the right choice or that we’ll always act in accordance with God’s will. We are sinful human beings, and that sinfulness shows itself daily in our words and actions. But in Romans 8:28, God does promise that he will take all our choices—good and bad, influenced by our old Adam or our new self—and use them for good, for his purposes.

The Magi were blessed to see the good at the end of their journey. They saw Jesus with their own eyes and bowed down and worshiped him. They had the certainty that their journey was not in vain, that they accomplished the task set before them, that they reached their goal. And then they returned to their own country, presumably to tell everyone what they had seen and heard.

It would be lovely if we could always see the good in our journey, too. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Sometimes we can see how God is working for our good in the moment. Sometimes, that seeing takes longer—months or even years. And sometimes, we aren’t able to see that good on this side of heaven. But we can be comforted in knowing that God is always working for the good of those who love him, whether that’s directly for our good or for the good of another fellow believer. Even in the midst of this uncertainty, may we share the joy of the Magi at God’s guidance and protection throughout our journey—from this life to the next!