How many times have you been on that road trip and the directions are telling you to turn left at the fork in the road but you are thinking that one of your girlfriends told you that going right was quicker? Do you turn left because you actually took the time to print off the directions before you left home and your GPS is telling you to turn left, or do you trust that your friend would know because she has been that route dozens of times? Perhaps you are just going to sit right in the middle of the fork in the road and hope that after all the cars zoom by there will be a big neon sign that reads, “THIS WAY.”
I have to admit I have been a little bit of all the above. I have turned left, turned right, and even just felt like I was sitting in the middle, hoping that sign would appear before another horn honked. Feeling as if you just do not know what direction you should go in seems to be reoccurring lately. Scripture tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him; and He shall direct your paths”.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Dead Ends and Destinies
As Christians we are quick to blame God for taking us down the wrong path. “But, God, I trusted you, just like the scripture says to, and you led me to a dead end.” We find ourselves angry with God and questioning why. In most cases you never know why you took the road you took, but often it leads to a beautiful destination that you may not see until years from now. The dead-end road tends to consume us rather than being a slight detour to our destiny. If I am being honest with you, those detours and bumps in the road are what has brought me this far. And trust me when I say it has taken time to appreciate them and realize those mishaps were equipping me for the path He has made for me.
Not all the paths that you find yourself on are dead-ends; some could be new roads that you have never traveled and are a bit hesitant to take. Sure, the easiest thing to do would be to take the usual route that you could drive with your eyes closed, but sometimes God calls you out to journey down a new road. Sometimes that road is one you never would think of traveling, but here you are obeying God and following His lead. I once heard someone say, “God does not call the equipped, He equips the called”, and that is something that has stuck with me. God never promised an easy life, but He did promise to give you the strength to press on daily and overcome any situation that you may face.
Trust and Obey
So, when you feel like God is calling you to take the right turn, trust and obey, for there is no other way. James 1:2-4 says,
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4
If God is calling you down a certain path, He will provide you with the directions you need to get to your destination.
If you are the one in the middle of the road and are trying to decide which turn is better, practice the pause. Take a minute to listen to God and obey which direction he is leading you too. Don’t be distracted by all the honking horns.
Read also: How God works in unexpected ways
