Romans 5:3-5, “We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us."
Have you ever felt like life was taking you on many detours? You set things up to get from point A to point B, but you begin to run into one detour after another. It seems the detours keep multiplying. Just as you get through one there’s another and another, and you are going nowhere.
Have you ever found yourself on a detour while driving? You're driving and suddenly those orange markers are everywhere letting you know there is a detour coming up, you will be delayed. What is your typical reaction? Maybe, like myself, you've grumbled, ‘I don't have time for this.’
It's frustrating to hit detours while you are driving to somewhere that is important to you (and we've had a lot of them around us lately). These detours take us out of the way and aren’t convenient by any means. They make us take longer than we had planned for. We know the workers are there to fix, build, correct, they are necessary, or will improve something.
Like those construction crews, Jesus will take us on detours because He is constructing something in our life. Before we get to where God wants us to be, to our destination. We will face twists and turns, delays, and disappointments as He takes us though life.
God will use these detours and delays to help develop our character. He knows what we need to develop and grow our spiritual lives. When we face delays, we can use them to help strengthen and sharpen our spiritual wisdom. Just the other day I had to turn around and get off one of the roads that led me to my house. I could have taken the long way around; the way I knew. Instead, I chose to follow traffic off to a side road. Although I wasn’t sure where this was taking me I used the knowledge I had, knowing the road would lead to another road that I figured would take me home. Detours can sharpen our wisdom.
Detours in life allow you to learn, grow, and develop. God has a purpose for your life, a plan for you that He wants you to walk in. It won't happen tomorrow, and you won't get there on a straight line. God will take you on a detour or two maybe even 10 or 100, but you will get there. Not by going from A-Z. More like A to B to F to D to R and back to C then on to Z. In life when you trust God to lead you, you may never know what letter He will pull out next, you simply need to trust and have faith.
Detours can disappoint and feel like they'll never end. Yet, when we have patience in God's promises, He won't disappoint. “God's detours are not delays or denials. They are divinely appointed moments with God.” -unknown.
In life we will face not only delays and detours but there will be disappointments too, and although they come in many shapes and sizes, there is one thing they have in common; we don’t see them coming. Many disappointments will catch us off guard leaving us feeling frustrated, confused, maybe even heartbroken. In times of disappointment, we begin to question why. Why did this happen? Why at this time? They can leave us discouraged and maybe even angry at God. When our faith is rocked, we are uncomfortable and can’t see past the forest to the other side. When stuck on our round-about or wandering through the desert of disappointment, we struggle to see God’s hand and trust His care for us.
In those times, take a deep breath and know that God is with you, He still has a plan for you, and He will never leave you. Step back and ask God to show you how He showed up and tell Him you trust His leading. Tell God you are thankful that no matter the situation, and that it will not permanently crush and destroy your spirits. Remember to acknowledge and thank God for where you are in life, even if you are taking wild twists and turns. God has a reason for every move He makes, and it is always for your good and not for evil. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Then when you’re though the forest (remember hindsight is always 20/20), reflect on how your delay, detour, or disappointment turned out to be a blessing. Don’t look back, no matter how bumpy and twisty your path is, know this is the way God has chosen for you, it is the best road. If you continue to look back at what was lost, you will miss the rewards you have on the new path. Open your eyes and notice the things around you knowing God goes before you and clears the way. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
No matter the detours, delays, or disappointments you face in life, God is guiding you on the path you are on. You are on the right road.
Whether you are young or old, if you follow Jesus, you have the promise of Jesus to help you through all you do in life and everywhere you go. Daily we seek to be more like Jesus and finding ways to serve Him. The best way we find a transformation starts in the Word. Reading the Bible and seeking ways we can learn more of Jesus and what He has done for us and promised us. Reading scripture begins with faith in God's Word and trusting all you read is true. We have been studying how to have faith in God and today we will continue our study that we should not worry because of our faith.
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