Recalculation

Yesterday, as I was on my way to work, I ran into traffic. The traffic was such that Waze recalculated and sent me on a new route. This was not a route I was familiar with.  In fact, when I saw the exit it was telling me to take, I almost stopped it, and went the familiar way.  However, I decided to listen and follow the directions given.  I continued to follow the way the directions were taking me and found there was a specific reason for this new route.   The way I had planned to go had an accident, and therefore traffic was backed up. As I drove, I found that I arrived at my destination at the initial time planned.  My way would have delayed me, but following the directions put me at my destination at the appointed time.

I have found this has been the same with my life lately.  I find I am on a path to a specific destination, getting close to breakthrough/resolution/etc.only to find  that as I turn the corner there is something in the path blocking and stopping.  Sometimes thee things are distractions to cause me to lose focus.  If I lose focus, I run the risk of not just slowing down, but stopping out of frustration or simply forgetting.  I think about when I go to the store. I go in with a specific purpose of what to buy, only to find I walk out with a cart full: and without the specific item. Distractions!

However, there are other times that what appears to be a delay and interruption, are designed for a specific purpose: to shift us, build  us, slow us down, strategically: all designed by God because He wants us to know something.  I remember years ago, as I was becoming frustrated with the “Nos” of life, that my dad said something.  He simply said “When God says “No N.O, what does He want you to KNOW…K.N.O.W”  I held on to that, and have reflected on this as I experience delays.  I am asking myself “in this delay, what does God want me to know?:”

In fact I experienced this just this morning. I started writing this post with one idea in mind, and yet the Lord shifted me: He recalculated my route.  Just as Waze will, what appears to be random, find a new path and change our direction mid route, God shifted me.  Now the shift happens after I started moving.  This shift/recalculation does not happen when I am sitting at home, not moving.  I have to be actively moving/flowing.  As I move, and let Him lead, I find that He is ordering my steps.  Psalm 37 reminds me that “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” so I yield and let Him order, and recalculate as He sees fit.  

While the new route feels that it will take longer than the original (my) plan, and it appears to be off the “normal” plan, God knows exactly what He is doing. It is not for me to know the why the shift has happened, but simply to trust and pivot as God leads. I am to trust Him, knowing He knows what He is doing, and knows what is ahead.  Jeremiah 29:11 reminds me “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to proper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”  So since He knows that plans, I will follow.

So, even when the unexpected comes up, I simply pray and ask the Lord if this is a distraction designed to get me off course, or the Lord “recalculating” my journey.  If this is a distraction, I ignore and continue to move as He leads.  If it is a “recalculation” I follow, and move as He leads. No matter what, I will seek Him for guidance and direction, because He will get me to my destination, safe, and and His appointed time.