TITLE: Directionally Challenged By Kelly Fisher 01/14/07 |
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“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17b (NIV)
My friend, Paula, and I headed out one Friday for a much needed, and totally overdue “girls weekend” in San Antonio, Texas. Normally, the drive would take about 4 hours, but, being that it was the two of us traveling – it took us over 6 hours.
One reason for the longer drive, was a wreck that occurred on the highway, only about 45 minutes into our trip! A mutual friend of ours was headed out of town for a wedding, on the same highway, and called to tell us that there was a bad wreck and they had come to a complete stop! Ugh! Totally depressed at the thought of “sitting” on the freeway for what could be hours – we tried to see if the navigation system in her car could re-calculate an alternate route! We were completely surprised when the system said there was an alternate route – because normally the only way from Houston to San Antonio is Interstate 10 West. We got so excited about the possibility of an “adventure” so early in our trip, we almost missed the exit we needed to take in order to take this “alternate” route.
We called our friend to tell her that we were taking “Nancy Navigator’s” alternate route – and wished them a safe trip – secretly excited that we would not be “sitting” for hours! (No need to make them feel bad, right?)! Well, the alternate route sure was more scenic than the highway, and so Paula and I settled into our trip and began enjoying our newfound route to San Antonio! About 15 minutes after exiting the freeway and beginning our journey – we realized that we were headed right back to the interstate! In fact, “Nancy Navigator” had taken us on an alternate route that deposited us right back on the freeway – at the exact location of the wreck! Unbelievable! We just looked at each other and laughed!
As I look back on this (and laugh hysterically) – I find myself thinking about how many times I have grown impatient with God’s schedule and calculated an “alternate” route for myself – hoping to get to the destination God has for me a little quicker – and move on to the next thing He has for me! How many times have I not wanted to spend the time “sitting” with God – waiting on him! Instead, I take matters into my own hands (again!) and usually make a much larger mess of the situation! When I find myself wanting to “rush through a particular season in my life” and create my own “alternate” route – God brings to mind that weekend trip with Paula – and the “alternate” route that we thought would make the trip to our destination a little faster – but, in fact, caused our time on the road to be longer than expected!
How many times have you created your own "alternate" route - thinking your ways were easier (and better) than God's? What was the end result of your "alternate" route? Ask God to show you when you begin to calculate your own "alternate" route and to help you remain on the path that He has set for you.
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