I don’t know about where you live, but in my daily travels, I find road construction or detours on almost every route I take. I’m usually a patient driver and don’t get frustrated easily but I find myself trying to find a way around the detours or construction so that I don’t have to wait. Can you relate?

Road detours aren’t the only detours we take in life, are they? We can be going down a path toward our goals and something derails us. Before we know it, we have left that path and forged another. I know that in my own life, I have consistently exercised for a long time (same time each day) and then got sidetracked or derailed. For some strange reason it is always very hard for me to get back on the path I had started – the one toward my goal. Same with healthy eating. I will do well for a while and then have one of my “trigger foods” and spiral back into old habits. How about our spiritual walks? We are consistently in God’s Word, prayer, fellowshipping with other believers and then – BAM! Something happens and pretty soon we let worry, new commitments, other desires take over the time we used to spend with God. Before we know it, God is not in first place and sometimes not even in second or third. We just call on Him when WE THINK we need Him.

We are tempted – sure. But, not by God. James 1:13-14 “When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”

Good News – we don’t have to wait for Monday to begin again, we can do it NOW, right this minute. We can ask God for His help and then – accept it. With God, it’s just that easy. On our own we have more trouble. As human beings, we have a tendency to talk ourselves in or out of anything we want. Problem is – it only delays the inevitable consequence. Here is God’s promise to believers regarding temptation:  1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.”

Matthew 6:33 tells us that if we put God first, everything else will fall into place. That’s the key. So simple. So true. There is no way to stay on the right path without God’s direction. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.” That’s a promise from God and He always keeps His Word!

Even when we are inconvenienced and find ourselves on a detour, we don’t have to be detoured from the plan God has for us and the narrow path leading to righteous
ness. We can use the time spent waiting in traffic to pray: for road construction crews, those behind the wheel who frustrate us, any other need we see as we travel. And of course, we can spend the time praising God for the blessings He has given us. Funny how it works but as we count our blessings in praise and thanksgiving to God, pretty soon our delays and annoyances won’t seem so big and bad after all. We may even start looking at detours as opportunities for growth. We can refocus and go forward in peace and joy. Acts 2:28 “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”  I wish you all joy and peace along whatever path God leads you.