If I offered you 30,000 paths, and said only one of them would lead you to the desires of your heart, might it be a bit confusing?

What if I told you that choosing the wrong path could have eternal consequences. Would that raise the stakes a bit higher?

Such is the state of Christianity today. We’ve gone from One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church to a fractured 30,000+ Christian denominations, all claiming to be the way to Christ.

This isn’t counting the hundreds of thousands of undeclared “personal churches” of those who claim to be spiritual but not religious—to love Jesus but not his Church. Those who want a personal relationship with Jesus, just not his Body.

It’s the equivalent of approaching a king and saying, “I am here to serve you, I just don’t want to be part of your kingdom,” or telling your spouse “I love you, just not your body.”

How would that go? Would that lead to a thriving relationship?

The psalmist today acknowledges this dilemma of multiple ways, multiple paths that are laid before him by life, by sin, by gurus, by news outlets, coaches, loving family members and friends, and tabloid magazines—all of them touting the path to happiness and truth.

He proclaims, “Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.” For with more than 30,000 paths claiming to be the way to Christ, how are we to say yes to the true path.

But we need not fear, for Christ tells us that he is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6). He has given us the Holy Spirit to be our guide. If you were standing at the crossroads of 30,000 paths, just think how confident you would be with the Holy Spirit guiding each of your steps.

Should you find yourself at a crossroad today, before phoning a friend, perhaps you might pause and invoke the Holy Spirit for guidance. He is the Good Shepherd who will never lead you astray.