Detours: When We Take Wrong Turns

 

+Jeanne Takenaka @JeanneTakenaka

I saw the detour sign . . . and it told me to do the opposite of how SIRI directed me.

I’m not afraid of driving in places I’ve never been before. The upside of having GPS on my phone is that I can call on SIRI to get me directions to almost any place I want to go.

The downside of this is that, sometimes, SIRI is wrong.

Or, she’ll direct me on a longer route than necessary. I’m not sure why. It’s always a tricky decision when things seem contradictory. Follow the signs, or follow a satellite-directed app?

On this particular day, she had already led me the long way to a freeway. As I neared the freeway exit SIRI told me to take a certain turn. A large orange sign said the road I needed was closed. So, I made a choice.

Ignore SIRI (try not to gasp too loudly).

All of her directions to me were to get me back on track. But I was certain something hadn’t been updated in her instructions. After all, the sign leading to the exit ramp I needed said it was closed. SIRI was misinformed.

Yes, it’s happened . . . once or twice.

I’ve learned from experience that if I take a different turn, SIRI can always get me to wherever I needed to go. But this time, every turn she gave me was to get back to the road I was certain was closed.

I spent twenty-five minutes driving on wind-y roads, trying to find another way to my destination. Trying to “persuade” SIRI to give me an alternate route.

Finally, I prayed.

I know. I probably should have done that at the first sign of contradiction. Seeing no options but to follow SIRI, I exited the freeway where she directed.

Much to my surprise, the road was open. And the location I’d tried to get to for the past twenty-five minutes was a mile off the freeway. Yes, I felt a little foolish for not following SIRI’s instructions.

This got me thinking.

How many times has God given me some instruction about something? The signs I see in daily life tell me the opposite of those quiet words in my head.

It’s too easy to ignore that quiet nudging and go with what seems right.

More times than I care to admit, I’ve made wrong turns trying to get somewhere. I’ve tried alternate routes on life’s road based on faulty information. Or based on how I misread the signs.

How many times have I been certain that I knew better than God? Please tell me I’m not the only one.

We all must choose who we trust. 

Do we trust in ourselves? Do we believe we know best?

Do we trust the messages the world sends us? Do we read the signs of our times—of our culture—and make decisions based on what they tell us?

Do we listen to trusted friends and family?

Do we know how to listen to God’s voice? How to recognize it when we have decisions to make?

God offers guidance. He gives us nudges in our hearts. He speaks to our minds. I find this too easy to dismiss, because often His words come out in my voice, if that makes sense.

The thing is? God never steers us wrong.

He knows the paths we should follow.

God has created a special journey for each of His children. 

We must decide . . . are we going to take the route He’s mapped out for us?

Or are we going to forge ahead driving on the side roads, taking wrong turns because we are determined to do what we think is best?

I’ve done it both ways. I’m learning the value of being still so I can learn to recognize God’s voice. God doesn’t aim to make things as difficult as possible for us.

God doesn’t promise things will be easy, but He always knows the best way through the detours of life.

Even when SIRI makes mistakes, God knows the best routes for us to travel.

What about you? When have you taken a wrong turn and learned something surprising? How has God been directing you lately?

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I’m linking up with #RaRaLinkup at Abby McDonald’s and with Holly Gerth today. Come read more wonderful posts!