Lately I have been stressing over my need to look into the future. I’ve heard myself saying “I wish…” way too much lately. I wish this situation had a different outcome. I wish I could go back to a certain day or conversation. I wish I could get a peek at life a year from now and see that everything all works out. I keep having to remind myself that I already know it all works out. God already promised that it does and that He is working ALL things for my good. I already know the final destination, I’m just uncertain about the route. I have to remember in times of anxiousness that all I have to do is take the next step in faith even when I can’t see ahead any further.
Recently, the girls and I had one of those jam-packed Saturdays with multiple events overlapping. I talked with the girls about how we were going to do everything, but it would require us to leave early and arrive late for some of the activities. As we were leaving school where one event was and headed to our next destination for a birthday party, my apple CarPlay connected and the map automatically popped up with our home address. The girls anxiously kept looking at the red pinpoint on the screen and watching the estimated arrival time. Nervous anticipation escalated into a full on freak out from the backseat about us missing the birthday party and shouting that I was going the wrong way. It didn’t seem to matter how many times I calmly told them that the red pin was not our destination.
It occurred to me as my children were growing more and more upset about the destination marker that had absolutely nothing to do with where we were going right then, just how often I unnecessarily worry about destinations that have nothing to do with my own journey. How often I get caught up on someone else’s end point and lose focus of the path God has me on. When a runner is racing, they stay aligned by keeping their head forward and focusing on what is in front of them. They don’t lose valuable time getting distracted by turning their head to focus on the pace or steps of their fellow runners. If I am preoccupied looking over at something that is not God’s will for me, it ends up taking me much longer to recognize and receive the blessings He does have in store for me.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Fortunately, God is patient and graciously gives us all the time we require to course correct. When we submit to Him, He makes our paths straight and we can trust that where He is leading us is His absolute best for us. When my young children were questioning where I was driving us as they were hyper focused on an arbitrary pinpoint, I kept thinking this must be how God feels when I question or complain about where my life is going. There are probably times He rolls His eyes and thinks, “Child, trust me on this. I see the full picture and it all works out for your good.” He will get me to the party in time.
Reflecting on big events in my life, its the times when I have fully submitted to God’s will and been in tune with the directions the Holy Spirit places on my heart that opportunities have just fallen into my lap. What’s meant for you will always find you and it has nothing to do with what path someone else is on. When something is God’s will for me and I am obedient, the outcome is always worth the journey and He is with me every step of the way with a peace that surpasses understanding. I know this and I still worry about where He is leading me next. Surely God must feel the same way about us when we question or complain about our roadmap as I did about my children’s questioning of the map they were seeing. Fortunately, He understands. Just like I understood my kindergartner’s need to jump in the pool and not miss a party, God understands my human urgency to know my future destination, but it still doesn’t change the fact that He always knows better. He sees the full map. Even if we can’t see where it’s marked, He knows our destinations and we can trust that he will get us there right on time when we keep taking the next step in faith.
Love, Molly
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