Rerouting

You're traveling along just fine...using your GPS on your phone or car system.  Suddenly, your traveling plan gets interrupted and you hear the words "Rerouting."  Whether it's from road work, a missed turn or a new road your GPS wasn't aware of, your travel route is suddenly disrupted and changed. 

This can happen with our life plans as well, can't it?  Your going along, everything is supposedly going well, you know where you are headed and how you are going to get there.  But then suddenly you realize you're being rerouted.  The rerouting may come from health problems, job loss, a bad decision, strained relationships, financial challenges or other issues that seem to be beyond your control. 

I'm not sure who this is for.  But someone who is reading this is in the midst of being rerouted.  And you are frustrated.  This is not what you thought would happen.  Your carefully laid out plans have been turned upside down.  This rerouting is taking you down roads you didn't expect or ask for.  You're losing hope that this new route will be where you want to go.  You've been talking to God about it, but haven't gotten a clear answer on why the sudden, disruptive change.

Can we sit and talk for a minute?  I want to encourage you today.  Even though this rerouting seems unnecessary, disruptive, frustrating and unfruitful, it is not.  Trust God.  There is a reason He is rerouting you.  You can trust the route because you can trust God.  If the route seems to be taking you into the desert, there is a reason for it.  Perhaps He wants you to rest for awhile.  Perhaps He longs for you to spend more time with Him.  Perhaps He knows this new route is just what you need.  If the route is taking you down a road that is out of your comfort zone, then perhaps He wants to grow you, stretch you, prepare you for something bigger than you could ever imagine yourself.  If this new route is hard, difficult and even scary for you, remember that God is with you.  He is in control.  He knows exactly where this new route will end up.  It may just be a different way to get you to the same destination you'd planned on all along or it may take you to a new place, a new adventure He has planned for you.

Being rerouted?  Grab hold of this promise and keep following.  Your Heavenly Father loves you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Lean not into your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.  Proverbs 3:5-6