In recent day’s, our town and surrounding areas experienced a major flooding event that resulted in numerous roads becoming impassable with some of the smaller bridges being completely washed away. For a short window of time some individuals were unable to return to their homes and/or jobs. As with change of any type, this disrupted the normal flow of life resulting in detours, not only in travel, but also in the everyday normal we become accustomed to in our day. Webster defines a detour as a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure.
In similar fashion, the need for detours can occur in our spiritual life. Often we find ourselves headed in a direction we set for ourselves, but not necessarily a direction that is taking us to where God intended for us to be. Our usual isn’t necessarily God’s intended, so we find ourselves in the wilderness unsure how to redirect our lives. In our wilderness, God stands ready to provide the detour necessary to bring us out
“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
God can bring about a detour in our lives that will bring us out of the wilderness, out of the desert. He will guide us through the dark places in our lives into places of light where we can once again see Him and His direction clearly.
“And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16
Though God may not direct our lives along paths we expected, we need to remember that His detours will always bring us to exactly where we were intended to be all along.
“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” 2 Samuel 22:31