During the last week of August, my husband and I took off from work to spend quality time with our family before the kids returned to school. We embarked on a series of day trips, soaking in the last days of summer and the beauty of Israel’s landscapes. As we traveled from place to place, we relied on Waze, trusting the app to guide us through both familiar and unfamiliar routes.
One afternoon, while driving along a particularly scenic road, Waze suddenly directed us to take an unexpected detour. The new route seemed completely out of the way, and my husband and I exchanged puzzled glances. Despite our initial skepticism, we followed the instructions. As we drove along this unfamiliar path, my husband made a thoughtful observation: “More and more, I feel like Waze is like God—not literally, of course. Sometimes it takes you in directions that don’t seem to make sense, but it always has your best interests in mind and knows what’s best for you in the end.”
His words brought to mind a verse from Proverbs:
Much like Waze, life often presents us with detours—unexpected turns that leave us questioning the direction we are headed. In these moments, it’s easy to feel lost or frustrated, especially when the path before us seems longer or more complicated than we anticipated. However, the Bible teaches us that just as we trust a navigation app to guide us on our physical journeys, we should trust God to guide us through the spiritual and emotional journeys of our lives.
The wisdom in Proverbs encourages us to trust in God’s plan, even when it defies our understanding. Just as Waze might redirect us to avoid an unseen traffic jam or road closure, God’s guidance often steers us away from obstacles we cannot see. While we may not always understand why we are being led down a certain path, we are reminded that there is a greater perspective at play—one that sees beyond our immediate view.
When the Israelites entered the desert after fleeing Egypt, the Bible tells us:
God did not lead them by the shortest route to the Promised Land. Instead, He took them by a longer, more indirect way through the desert by the Sea of Reeds. To the Israelites, this detour may have seemed unnecessary or confusing. But God knew what they didn’t—that the more direct route would lead them to face the Philistines, a formidable enemy that they were not yet prepared to fight. The longer path was for their protection, both physically and emotionally, and ultimately led them to a miracle at the Sea.
In our modern lives, we may not be wandering through a literal desert, but we all experience periods of uncertainty, doubt, and detours that challenge our faith and patience. It is in these moments that we are called to trust God’s wisdom, to submit to Him, and to believe that the path we are on will ultimately lead us to where we need to be. The journey may be longer than we expect, but it is designed for our growth, protection, and ultimate good.
Just as Waze brought us safely to our destination that day, so too does God guide us to where we are meant to be. The route may not always be the one we envisioned, but it is the one that is best for us. Our role is to trust in Him, to let go of our need to control the outcome, and to have faith that He is leading us on the right path.
So, as we continue to journey through life, may we all find peace in trusting the path, even when it takes us in unexpected directions. And may we always remember that, like a wise and loving guide, God is constantly leading us toward what is best for us, even when the way ahead is unclear. In those moments of uncertainty, we can find comfort in knowing that every detour is part of a divine plan, and that in the end, we will arrive exactly where we are meant to be.
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