Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: CONFUSION (07/20/23)
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TITLE: Chossing the Wrong Directions | Previous Challenge Entry
By Naoma Bird
07/27/23 -
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Choosing the Wrong Directions
My husband and I spent a year in Macon Georgia doing volunteer work at a large children’s Home. Everything we needed was on campus, our apartment, meals, a gym, and a church. My work was all on campus, but my husband worked with maintenance and grounds staff, so he often went into Macon for parts and supplies.
My husband always does the driving when we travel together. This is a mutual agreement we have since we come from a small town and I’m not used to driving in city traffic. When leaving the campus to visit sites, shop, or eat out in Macon he drove. When I was invited by a friend to a Women’s Bible Study in her home it seemed like a good opportunity to get off campus and enjoy a Bible study, and have some fellowship with the women in the group. I was quite anxious about going because I would have to drive through Macon myself as my husband had work, he had to do that day. I prayed about it and felt I needed to go.
George set up the GPS and off I went. I was grateful and relieved when I arrived safely. Our time in the Word was a blessing as was the fellowship. After thanking my host and saying my goodbyes, I assured her I would be back. Feeling pretty good about my accomplishment in getting there, I activated the GPS, pushed the button for “home,” and was on my way. I followed the instructions to the letter but when the GPS said, “Stay on this route for fifty-five miles,” panic set in. I was lost, afraid, and confused, and was headed far from where I needed to go. I had no idea where I was, how I got there, or how to get back. Exiting the highway at the first off-ramp, I pulled off on the side of the road and prayed. Looking at the GPS map, I was fourteen hours from my destination, which should have been ten minutes. Finally, I saw the problem. I’d chosen the wrong roadmap. I had set it for “home” which was our “home” in Pennsylvania. The roadmap I needed to reach my destination was for “Hephzibah,” my temporary home. I changed to the roadmap for Hephzibah and arrived, safely.
As Christians, we are not home in this world, although we are temporarily assigned here. There is a clear path to our home in Heaven that is mapped out in Scripture, but we often get lost and confused by following the world's maps. We make choices and decisions without seeking God in prayer first seeking to know what He has mapped out for us. We can allow pride or arrogance gets in the way and we run ahead of God. All these things cloud our decision-making and cause confusion. With confusion there are no absolutes; nothing is clear. There are no borders and no warning signs.
It can be challenging to think sometimes because of all life’s chaos.
We listen for a voice of clarity to find our way in this world, but there are so many voices in conflict it just leaves us in a fog. The following Scripture will help us to choose the right road map God has mapped out for us. If we will be still and listen for His clear voice, He will take us home.
James 3:16
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
. Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Scripture reference Footnotes:
James 3:6 King James Version Bible
Romens 12:2, James 1:5 and Isaiah 30:21 New International Study Bible
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I especially liked this part:
"We make choices and decisions without seeking God in prayer first seeking to know what He has mapped out for us. We can allow pride or arrogance gets in the way and we run ahead of God." Amen!
God Bless~
I saw a couple of grammar things - "I was quite anxious about going because I would have to drive through Macon myself as my husband had work, he had to do that day." There is a misplaced (unnecessary) comma here.
Also, run the preview before submitting so you can see what your entry looks like - extra spaces between the paragraphs would make this an easier, and a more attractive looking read.
Finally - check your title! Your entry has the correct spelling, but when you entered it for the contest, you misspelled it.
Your writing made it easy to identify with the feeling of being anxious and lost.
I also like that someone was loving enough to point out a few gramatical errors. They are like gold. If you appreciate the wisdom of the experienced- you are going to be unstoppable.
Cheers.