Encountering a Roundabout

Shelley | Posted on August 30, 2019 |

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track” (Proverbs 3:5-6, The Message).

Have you ever been on a road trip and found yourself coming to a roundabout? It is an interchange with multiple routes entering and exiting, and the challenge is not just to navigate the traffic at various points but to make sure you do not miss your turn off. Those who are experienced with these circles easily traverse the way, but a newcomer may find it something akin to chaos. There are those occasions when one simply misses the desired route and must go around again.

Have you ever paused to consider how like our lives this scenario can be? We are traveling along the road enjoying a pleasant outing and taking in the scenery. Suddenly, we come upon this roundabout. Maybe it is a time of decision and the path is clear, so we navigate easily. Possibly it is a situation or a choice confronting us when life goes awry, but we just keep moving and make the passage through the melee to find the sought-after route to our next destination. Experiences sometimes bring us to places we have never been, and we realize we are lost. It may mean going around the circle a few times until we regain our bearings.

Traveling is often easier when someone is with us to help watch for the route signs, and we wish there would be such a person for life’s journey. There is One who offers to be our personal GPS, who guides us, and who goes along each step of the way. God’s directions are always accurate and the best, even if it involves what appears to be circuitous routes. Don’t worry if you get off on the wrong road as a result of thinking you had a better travel plan. Go back to following God’s instructions (you can find them in The Bible as seen above). It may seem like you are detouring or the road is becoming more difficult to travel. Fear not, if you allow God to take the wheel, the direction of your path and the course ahead will end at the most fulfilling and desired outcome.