Detours in Life

Some of the best experiences in my life have come because of detours. Plans changed, a road was rerouted, a sign sparked some interest… Detours on road trips have time and time again produced exquisite scenery, little roadside antique stores, farm fresh fruit stands, monuments, museums, land marks, a car show, a festival, and more…things I could have easily missed out on if I had not allowed a detour to be what it was…an opportunity. Granted, there are other times when road detours have proved to be a test in patience and trust, filled with a little uncertainty, a little danger and a definite consumption of time.  But in the end, no matter the nature of the detour, the outcome always seems to come down to one thing—perspective.

Spiritual detours can be just the same.  When our plan somehow takes a backseat, we need to have the right perspective. A detour does not mean that God has turned the other way, forgotten us or abandoned us. It could be He has allowed the detour for a purpose:  “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ”  Jeremiah 29:11. Perhaps the detour in our life will bring us adventure, perhaps it will be a learning experience or a needed correction; perhaps in some way it will further the kingdom; regardless, it is an opportunity for growth. God sees the big picture. If He is allowing a detour, be confident:  He is in control, you are His child, and NOTHING happens outside of His will (Matthew 10:29-31).   

Consider, too, that a detour might be a preventative measure. What might God be keeping us from? Perhaps the “detour” is really a purposeful delay. Perhaps God is guarding us against some unforeseen hardship or distraction. And let us not fear that a detour will somehow reroute the whole unfolding of a situation or even the unfolding of our entire existence. We need to give God more credit than that.  He created a universe; surely he can direct the course of our lives.

Today, let’s change our perspective (Romans 12:2). Let’s trust God, thanking Him for the detours and for all that He is doing in the tapestry of our lives.       

–Katie Botello