Finding Our Way

“Let me know when we’re close to the turnoff.”
​
“I will, Sweetheart,” I said, as I unfolded the road map. We’d spent a week-long family vacation in Yellowstone with the travel trailer. We were on the long journey home and had been traveling most of the day. My husband usually did the map-reading, but due to traffic, he'd asked for my help.       

I slid my finger across the map to locate the Interstate we were on, then found the turnoff. "According to the map," I told my husband, "we will be turning off in about ten miles."   

“All right, good," my husband replied. We watched for the road sign and merged onto the turnoff. My husband looked tired, but said he'd be fine with another cup of coffee from the thermos. I was tired, too, and the kids were fidgety. I tried to be encouraging. "We'll find the campground soon and then we can have dinner," I told them, "and a surprise for dessert." 

But "soon" didn't come soon enough. An hour later we were heading up a steep mountain with no campground in sight. Dark storm clouds gathered. The truck engine made grinding sounds as we trudged up the narrow mountain road.  

My husband looked over at me. “Something's not right," he said.    

“With the truck?" 

“No, I expected it to slow down on roads like this, with the weight of the trailer. That's not what I meant. I have a bad feeling that we're going in the wrong direction."

“Oh, no," I said and reached for the map.    

"Don't bother with that," my husband said, shaking his head. "As soon as I find a place to pull over, we'll turn around."  
  
“I'm so sorry," I replied wistfully. “I guess I made a mistake looking at the map." 

“Yes, but it's not going to do us any good to worry about it now."      
  
I felt bad about my mistake. The expression on my husband's was strained as he focused on the approaching mountain curve, turning up the windshield wipers full blast as heavy rain pelted against the windshield.

Fear welled up inside me. What had I gotten us into? I lowered my head as my eyes filled with tears. Dear God, I’m sorry I caused us to lose our way. Please guide us to safety. In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Fortunately, not long after going around the curve there was a pull-off with enough room for my husband to turn us around.

Heading back the way we came, it took another hour before we reached the Interstate. A welcome sight was a truck stop a few more miles down the road. We were too exhausted to search for a campground, so we were happy to enjoy a hot meal at the restaurant and park the trailer on the premises for the night. Exhausted, we fell fast asleep.

However, if you're ever spent the night at a truck stop, you know how noisy the semi-truck engines can be. I woke up to the sound of a semi-horn blasting and couldn't go back to sleep. I mulled over my map-reading mistake, then decided to look up verses about God's guidance. Scripture from Proverbs 3:5-6 stuck with me: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”  

     Throughout my life, I have lost my way more often than I care to admit (both literally and figuratively). But as I work to build my faith, I am getting better at trusting in God. I still make a lot of mistakes, but I know the Lord is with me, no matter what happens. He is my Shepherd, my Counsel, my Guide, my Savior, my All in All. 

     God is there for me and He is there for you. My prayer is that we may have the faith to trust Him, and to lean on Him to guide us to help us find our way (without getting lost)!        

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“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” – Psalm 119:105
“And whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” – Isaiah 30:21
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” – Psalm 32;8
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Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com
 
 

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