Written by Tracy Figley | CEO Strong Tower Christian Media
It was late. I had been helping a friend an hour away and it was time to head home. I knew where I was going; in fact, I’ve made this trek so many times, I could do it in my sleep. Judging from how tired I was, tonight that was a possibility!
When I got to the part of my journey where I had to decide whether to take the most direct route or the Interstate, I figured I was too tired to go through the small towns with all the stop lights, so I jumped on the interstate. Things were going well and I was making good time but up ahead I saw all the flashing lights of construction. One mile away from where I was to exit onto another interstate, the big neon sign came into view alerting me that the exit ramp was closed! No warning, no detour signs, just exit ramp closed.
Now, I was in unknown territory. Oh, I knew this interstate but not how to get home this way without that exit. I decided to take the next exit and turn around. Unfortunately, the next exit was 6 or 7 miles away in the wrong direction of home and still, no detour signs. When I finally got off the Interstate, I thought briefly about getting back on and going the other direction, but I had no idea if the exit ramp on the other side of the Interstate would be open or not. So, I used my sense of direction and started going the way that seemed right. The real problem was now I didn’t recognize any of my surroundings and it got worse with every turn in the darkness. Then a joke came to mind; you know, about the man who was tired of the female voice on his GPS giving him orders so he changed it to a male voice? But the male voice over and over just said; “Keep on driving, it’s around here somewhere!”
At the next light, I pulled out my phone and asked Siri to take me to the town next to mine, certain I knew the way from there, but with each turn I seemed more lost. Then I told Siri to take me to my city, but again, where I was going didn’t make any sense. Finally, exhausted and exasperated I said “Siri, Take Me Home!” When she told me my street address, I knew she would get me there. Looking down now at my GPS, it said I would arrive in 45 minutes! Wow, was I ever lost!
It’s hard to admit that I don’t know where I’m going. Proverbs 14:12 tells us: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way of death.” As long as I was in unfamiliar territory, I couldn’t trust my sense of direction. I needed the voice of one who knew where I was and where I wanted to go. On the road that voice might be a GPS, but in life, it’s Jesus! He told us this in John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Have you found yourself in unfamiliar territory? Not sure where to turn or what to do? Have you lost confidence in your ability to get out of your mess? If so, then you need to pray. Pray to the only one who knows exactly where you are and exactly where you need to go. His name is Jesus!
