This past summer I took a road trip to see a very close friend. It was a long drive, made even longer due to the miles of road construction, and slower speeds. As it was a couple of states away, and to a location I had never visited, I was intrigued by the difference of terrain and geography, and various points of interest which I hope to visit at another time. But, I still found it frustrating to see one road work sign after another, delaying my arrival.
I was struck by the similarity of our own life’s “journey”, where it seems that inspite of much thought, planning, and careful consideration, we get confronted by unexpected detours, or slowed down by unavoidable obstacles. I felt painfully aware of how slowly I seemed to be progressing on the “road” that I am on. Lessons I needed to learn, and the refining process that God was putting me through, weren’t happening quickly. Yes, I know that we are “always in process, we never will have arrived until we reach heaven”, but I expected quicker results since I wasn’t “fighting” the process.
Philippians 2:13 says, “…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (NASB)
God is at work in us, for His good pleasure and in His timing. His ways and thoughts are not our ways, but higher and wiser. (Isaiah 55:9) On that road trip, I was reminded that life will always have set backs and obstacles, but it also has the places of beauty and delight. Let God be the one who directs your journey!