Sometimes God takes us down a path that does not appear to be a direct route.
My daughter recently was diagnosed with a health condition that prevented her from driving her car. Our independent teenager, who was accustomed to driving her own car, now had to regress and rely upon her parents once again. My wife and I readjusted our daily schedules and I agreed to take my daughter to school. Prior to this, I would share a perfunctory morning greeting before she bolted off to school. Now we had nearly twenty minutes together. I am a morning person but my daughter is not. Thus, it was with some trepidation that we embarked upon this new routine.
From the start, the minutes flew by and each day is a genuine blessing. We talk, we laugh, and we share special moments that only a father and daughter can understand. The crisis has also drawn my wife and I closer, sharing at a far deeper and intimate level than we have in many years.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.
Exodus 13:17-18 (ESV)
The Hebrews experienced God’s direct guidance when He led them out of Egypt. God took an indirect route because, in His providence, He knew the fickleness of their hearts, unwilling to trust Him even after performing astounding miracles to break the will of the Pharaoh.
God knows the fickleness of my heart and my stubborn spirit. If God had revealed to me that He would allow a health crisis to intervene within our family to draw us closer to each other, I certainly would have resisted. He needs to rouse me out of my complacency and take me down another path so that I would be able to spend quality time with my family and reaffirm my trust and faith in Him. God is sovereign and even when I doubt, He is faithful to deliver what He promises to me. What I perceive as a heartache inflicted upon our family, is, once again, a path for God to demonstrate His Sovereign grace and love.
The other path.
Our family is embarking upon a new path. We don’t know the twists and turns that we may encounter. Tears have already been shed and undoubtedly there will be much more pain and heartache. Fear, doubt, uncertainty. But we know that God is in control. The other path always leads to the same God who loves us completely, blessing us with His exceedingly abundant grace and mercy.
As our family comes together to support our daughter, we will allow our lives to be led by God rather than forcing God to follow us.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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