Taking the Long Road - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Meandering Monday, where we take a trip back to an earlier post and enjoy it again.

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. Exodus 13:17 NLT

We weren’t interested in taking the long road home, but afterward, we were glad we had.

My wife and I were on our honeymoon in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Fall was in the air, and winter would soon arrive. As we ate breakfast, we watched large snowflakes arch earthward. We decided to visit Cades Cove. Taking the ten-mile loop through the snow-dusted valleys was breathtaking.

We planned to take Newfound Gap Road on our return home, but inclement weather had closed the road. Conditions forced us to return to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and finally to the interstate that would carry us home. Though it was a longer road home, we enjoyed the views. 

God’s people had languished in Egyptian slavery for four hundred years. When God finally delivered them, he wasn’t about to guide them along the shortest route to the Promised Land. Doing so would have pummeled them into the midst of their enemies, the Philistines. Faced with this danger, they probably would have turned tail for Egypt.

I enjoy shortcuts—when driving and otherwise. Give me a keyboard shortcut on my computer that will perform an action faster than the mouse, and I’ll use it. Show me a back road that will take me where I’m going quicker and with less traffic, and I’m ready. God, however, has a habit of taking me the long way around, which tests my patience and sometimes makes me question his dependability.

I’ve learned to trust God’s heart when I can’t understand what he’s doing—which is most of the time. Trusting him develops patience—an honorable trait since I tend to be the impatient type.

God’s long way around may very well protect us from an unforeseen danger as it did the Israelites. The long way around certainly increases our trust in God, since those long-way-around trips take us into what appear to be out-of-the-way places.

Trust God’s love and wisdom when he takes you the long way around.

Prayer: Father, build our trust so we will follow You no matter what route You lead us down. 

Tweetable: Is God taking you down a longer road? 

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Confused - Martin Wiles

John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Matthew 11:2-3 NLT

When I drive in unfamiliar places, confusion normally reigns.

My wife and I were off to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for our honeymoon. We planned to attend a few dinner shows, shop, and visit antique stores. Our antique shopping took us to nearby Sevierville. After hours of shopping, lusting, and learning, we headed back to Pigeon Forge. I veered into the left lane, preparing for the left turn I would make to get us there.

“What are you doing?” my wife questioned.

“I’m turning left,” I said.

“Not if you want to go to Pigeon Forge,” she replied.

Convinced of my correctness, I made the left turn anyway. After a short drive, confusion blossomed on my face. “I don’t recognize any of this stuff,” I remarked.

“That’s because you’re going the wrong way,” she quipped. And I was.

Fortunately, she knew the right way, reoriented me, and directed us back to our hotel.

John the Baptist experienced confusion as well. He had introduced Jesus as the coming Messiah and pointed others to believe in Him. But now John languished in jail and wondered if Jesus was the Messiah after all. He wasn’t leading a rebellion against the Roman authorities. He didn’t seem to be a military commander. John did the only thing he knew to do—even if it might have expressed weak faith. He sent word to Jesus and asked if He was the Messiah.

God doesn’t want me confused about Him or what He wants me to do. He has a plan for my life which involves conforming me to the likeness of His Son. He plans for me to be a little Jesus who goes about my daily affairs influencing and touching the lives of others as Jesus did. If I’m confused about whether I’m going about His plan the right way or not, all I have to do is petition Him in prayer and meditate on His word. Things will clear up, and the answer will come.

When I know I’m in His will, I can live each day with confidence. I won’t have to second guess the direction I’m taking. I’ll be convinced of who I am in Christ—His forgiven child—and I’ll serve Him with peace and gladness.

Don’t let confusion steal your joy of serving Christ and fulfilling His plan. Be confident.

Tweetable: Are you confused about what God wants from you?

Prayer: Father, in our times of confusion, draw us to You for clarification. 

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