There are those times that Google Maps takes me some mighty interesting ways to get to my location. I am not sure if this is because we (google maps and I) are avoiding traffic or taking a shortcut, or what but GM certainly takes me down some backroads. This happens most often when we take my daughter up to the North Georgia mountains for camp. We now count how many dirt and gravel roads we travel upon each time as if its a game. It is funny when we are all together and we halfway know where we are. But last week it was just me and Google Maps on a road trip by ourselves. I was going to a training for my new job in a town only two hours away, but it was a town I had never been to before.  It was quite a bit off the interstate and I  had no idea how to get there. But Google Maps did. A little over an hour into the drive “the voice” told me to exit the interstate. Then the voice proceeded to tell me to turn right and left in so many feet. At first, I was going through a small town I was familiar with. All was well. Then the voice began guiding me outside of town into the backwoods. For half an hour I turned right and left onto a dozen little byways I never knew existed. I was tempted to look at the map and see where we were headed, but Georgia is now a “hands-free” state. My phone was in the passenger seat, so all I had was the voice to guide me.

I had no idea where I was. And I had no idea where I was going next.

I only knew where I hoped to arrive.

During this time the only thing I could do was to trust and follow the voice that was guiding me, one turn at a time.

Life is a lot like this, isn’t it? We want step by step directions laid out for us with a map showing us exactly where we are, where we are going, and how long it is going to take to get to our desired destination. But what we get is a Voice telling us to turn right in 500 feet. What comes next and when we do not know. All we can do is trust that the Voice knows where we are going and will not lead us astray. Why the Voice is taking us on a windy, unfamiliar way we may never know.  Are we avoiding some danger? Are we taking a short-cut or long-cut that is important for some reason? Does the Voice want us to enjoy the scenery for a while? We do not always know the reason the Voice leads down a certain road. We can only trust that the Voice is with us and for us. So instead of worrying about where we are and where we are headed next, maybe we would do better to roll down the windows and enjoy the wildflowers on the side of the road. One of the hardest things to do is to is to trust The Voice when we feel we are lost in the wilderness. But if the Voice is speaking, we are not lost. We are just not in control. So take the journey one turn at a time and Trust. You will get to where you need to be. You will be right God’s time. So for now, try and enjoy the ride.            ]]>