One of the most useful modern inventions (and there are many) is the GPS. And arguably, not just the creation of GPS, but now the availability of it (on our phones, in our cars, etc) has really changed how we get to our destinations.

I grew up in the time of reading maps, and later, printing out directions from Mapquest to read to the driver or to try to read myself while driving to wherever I was headed. I distinctly remember planning a move to Athens, Georgia for graduate school and printing out pages of directions to EVERYWHERE I thought I needed to go in the first couple of days to ensure that I wouldn’t get lost – like, I had an entire binder that was labeled with directions on how to get to and from each place because I didn’t own a GPS and this was before smartphones were widely available/accessible. So, if you were going anywhere, you had a map and/or your Mapquest directions.

But, I digress.

We moved to Jacksonville a little over 10 years ago, and I am just now getting to the point where I don’t need my GPS to get to many places. At the same time, I almost always open Google Maps because I’m trying to assess if there’s anything that will delay my arrival to my destination. Usually, from that point, I’ll keep moving- going as directed. But sometimes, after assessing the situation and receiving the directions, I’ll make an executive decision to go differently than I’m directed. Sometimes the root of this decision is that I’m trying to take a “shortcut” that the GPS is “unaware” of and sometimes I just feel that if I go the way I know, I can get to my destination faster.

Friends, I am almost always wrong in this line of thinking and subsequent action.

What usually happens when I try to go my own way, as opposed to the way that I’m directed by the GPS is that I end up getting to my destination later than I would have arrived if I had just followed the directions that I was given. If I had just trusted the GPS, I would have arrived at my destination within the expected time frame.

Here’s the thing – we do this with our GPS, but we also do this in our faith walks. We pray, asking God to direct us or to provide clarity on the next steps we should take. And sometimes, we follow those directions. But other times we feel like we know best and try to take a shortcut or an alternative route. And while the shortcut or alternative route may still get us to our destination, we oftentimes are delayed and potentially encounter challenges that we never may have faced if we had just trusted the initial set of instructions or directions that we had received.

As we prepare to close out this year, and go into the new year, I want to challenge you to trust the GPS. Trust God. Don’t ask Him for advice or direction and then try to take shortcuts or alternative pathways to get there. Dig deep, and trust the process and the journey that He has for you, knowing that He is working all things for your good.

Until next time- be encouraged! Peace and blessings!