“In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”   Proverbs 3:6 (NASB)

There is a popular poem by Robert Frost about a man who comes upon a fork in the road and must choose which path to take, “The Road Less Traveled.” You are probably familiar with it. The man chose his path. What a lucky guy. He got to choose. 

 Many of us aren’t so lucky. Sometimes a choice is made for us and we are left on a path that wasn’t on our original map.

I don’t know about you but when that happens to me, I can become upset, even bitter. I question why. I feel like the detour is an inconvenience. This feeling comes with small diversions like when a family matter arises and changes your weekend or vacation plans and then it also occurs on a larger scale when your life journey goes in a totally different direction due to a death of a loved one, a divorce, a job loss or change, or even an unexpected pregnancy (think of Mary and Joseph!).

This forced change is hard.

I can hear the voice of that nice lady on my navigation system saying, “rerouting.” I always hate when she says that! Rerouting??? How do I get back to the original route or to a more pleasant one? How did I get here? Rerouting … she makes it sound so easy. 

I have found myself, more than once in my life, being forced into a sudden change of paths. Each time thinking to myself: My choice of a path would have been straighter, better, smoother, and quicker. This new road I find myself on is crooked, longer, rougher, and slow going. 

Instead of quickly adapting to and coming to terms with the fact that there are some things I cannot control, I continue to look for the emergency stop button or a pause feature on my life so I can regroup and regain control – only to wake up down the road realizing life is not about control. It is not about always getting my way.

Life is not about getting your way. It is about finding your way.

If this hasn’t happened to you already, chances are it will.  You will be walking along the path you have chosen, enjoying the scenery, and then suddenly you are on a new road to a different destination – or so you think. 

We all need to realize we may end up on a different road, but the destination hasn’t changed.

Our purpose in life, our destination, remains the same. We are called to walk in His way. To serve your Lord and love your neighbor as yourself. 

That path that we think is so crooked and disjointed, so inconvenient, will be made straight for us. The Bible tells us that. All we have to do is acknowledge Him. Remember that He is in control.

Our responsibility along the path is to trust in God. To continue on in faith – even when it feels like you have been pushed into a maze and you panic because you can’t find your way out. You need to pray, regain your focus and press on until you find the light at the end of the dark tunnel. It is there. He is there.

God is right there walking with us when we make a pathway choice and when that choice is made for us. 

Remember this promise:

“I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Life’s journey is full of twists and turns. Detours and diversions. Stay focused on your destination – eternity with Christ – and your path will be made straight.