What I didn't realize was that the route we took would change my perspective on life.
My mom navigated from the passenger seat, and she instructed me to take I-69 all the way to Fort Wayne. To the untrained eye, taking I-69 does not seem like the best way (the quickest or most convenient) to get from eastern Michigan to northern Indiana. She assured me from the start, however, that taking I-69 would be the smoothest, least complicated, and most direct way to get to our destination.
Trusting her judgment, since she's made the trip many more times than I have, I began to drive. It wasn't long, however, before the irony began to set in. To get to I-69, we had to drive north -- the complete opposite direction of where we wanted to go. And once we merged onto I-69, we had to drive west!
Again, I trusted my mom's judgment, but I couldn't help feeling tense as we drove westward, hour after hour, seemingly getting nowhere close to Fort Wayne. It felt like a waste of time. If we needed to go south, why did we have to go west? Would the road ever turn south?
Mom assured me it would. Once we arrived in Lansing, she said, I-69 would curve around the city and we would begin to head south toward Fort Wayne. Sure enough, about two hours into our trip, I-69 curved around Lansing and we were finally heading in the direction we had been wanting to go!
My mind was very busy as I drove south for the next few hours.
Life is often like I-69. In our lives, we often have a deep desire to go a certain "direction", or to get to a certain "destination", but the route from A to B -- when taken on God's terms -- can defy rationality. Why would God ask you to head the opposite direction? And once you made the transition to the "route" He has planned for you, why would He set the course westward? You're running parallel to the destination. You are no closer to Point B than you were before!
Or so you thought.
See, my mom chose I-69 because it was the smoothest, least complicated, and most direct way to our destination. She could have chosen the more common route, which was riddled with changing interstates, heavy traffic congestion, construction, and the stress that comes with navigating through large cities. She chose I-69 because it was easier and more peaceful, (which she knew would benefit me because I'd never driven to Fort Wayne before).
All along, we merely stayed the course. We didn't have to change interstates or drive through congested cities. We let I-69 take us all the way to our destination.
This is a beautiful picture of how God guides us. He may lead us onto a road that makes absolutely no sense. It may be frustrating. It may lead us into a season of spiritual drought or silence. It may feel lonely, like a desert. We're heading west when all we want is to head south! We may begin to doubt God's logic -- which can spiral into doubting His goodness, His character, and His love.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will tell you that while you're heading west, you are no closer to Point B than you were before. All the angst, blind faith, and trust in the dark -- it's all a waste.
But that's wrong. You are much closer to Point B than you could ever dream! It may not feel like it now, but if you truly trust God's heart toward you, you will see that the route He's chosen will take you directly to where He wants you to be.
God's Point B may not be your Point B. As I drove westward toward Lansing, I drew a comparison of the route to my own life since returning from my trip this summer. I had to admit to myself that God's Point B might be drastically different than mine, and that He has made no promise to take me to my Point B. All He has promised is that this road I travel (with my hand in His) will take me directly to where He wants me, wherever that may be.
With this in mind, the road may keep going west! It may turn north again, or it may even head back east. Walk the road by faith and let Him decide which way the path will curve. It may indeed take the turn you hope for and begin heading in the direction you desire!
Remember why my mom chose I-69. She knew that I had never gone this way before and wanted to take me the safest and least complicated way. She chose I-69 out of compassion and love for me.
When God takes you a route you don't understand, remember that everything He does is motivated out of compassion and love for you! Everything He gives, everything He takes away, everything He allows, and everything He doesn't allow are all colored by His faithfulness, His compassion, His protection, His mercy, and His LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
While you are on your own I-69, traveling a path you don't understand, striving toward a goal you cannot see, cupping your empty hands, trying to figure out how to hope . . . may I suggest a new prayer to pray? It is just seven words long, but those seven little words can change your life forever.
"Father, align my heart with Your will."
Welcome to I-69! Trust your Navigator. Keep driving.
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