When you get in yo
ur car in the morning and pull out of your driveway, don’t you generally have a plan for where you’re going? I’m not really one to just hop in my car and drive without a destination already in mind. But today when I got to the end of my street, this was what faced me.
Truthfully, I had to laugh, because it is a perfect picture of my life right now. I’ve been on a fairly comfortable path with God as of late. I knew what He was asking me to do and I was ready and willing to obey. The commitment was manageable, the outcome predictable, and the payoff exceeded the sacrifice. In a nutshell- it was safe. But yesterday a phone call came out of the blue and suddenly I had to take a sharp right rather than continue straight ahead.
Sometimes God speaks to me in quiet whispers in my soul. Other times He shouts in the middle of my circumstances. Sometimes He puts giant signs in the middle of my road that force a response from me! He’s faithful to try various ways to get our attention. I chuckled as I approached the sign and listened for God’s whisper:
You still have to make a choice- will you go to the right or to the left?
It’s time to take a new path child, rather than the familiar one you’ve traveled day after day and could, in all probability navigate with your eyes closed. You’re not dependent upon me on this path.
The familiar path might reopen at some point- it’s not closed for good- but I have purpose in this detour in your life. It’s unknown, different, doesn’t feel safe, and you’ll have to keep your eyes wide open while you’re on it. Most importantly, it’ll require you to keep your gaze fixed on me and remind you why you headed out on this adventure with Me in the first place.
And child, please remember, no matter what path you’re on, I am always with you. Is there really any reason to fear?
These whispers in my soul brought me back to the promises of God in Scripture.
Isaiah 30:21 and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” Or in my case- drive on it.
We don’t always understand God’s detours. We don’t necessarily rejoice when the comfortable path is suddenly closed. We don’t always feel ready for the adventure of a new path nor get excited about the unpredictability of taking a new route to arrive at our destination. But God is always with us and He’s always directing us.
This promise is even better:
II Samuel 22:29-31
Lord, You are my lamp; the Lord illuminates my darkness.
With You I can attack a barrier, and with my God I can leap over a wall.
God—His way is perfect.
I do not know what path you’re on today- if it’s new, dark, full of obstacles, hard, or even heartbreaking. But this I do know: you’re not alone. And this I also know: God can bring good out a difficult path. There is always a purpose in the detour.
And God is faithful to bring all of us to our final destination.
What word would you use to describe your path today?
What characteristic of God brings you the most comfort while you’re on it?
