Lost

So, I took a solo road trip this weekend to the Bay Area. I went to visit a dear friend of mine that I used to work with when I lived in Pleasanton. She is pregnant with her first child and went to celebrate with her at her baby shower. And guess what . . . I got LOST!!! And I don’t just mean I took the wrong exit, but found my way back, I mean LOST!!!!

I got off on the right exit, and then I went the wrong way! And oh my goodness, I found out that if you stay on this particular road for too long, you can’t get off for miles! There were no turn offs and a median that kept me from making a U-turn to the other side! I was driving for what felt like 100 miles knowing I was going the wrong way and could not turn around! I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone! Seriously, I wanted to pull over to cry, and I couldn’t even do that! It was nothing but two lanes, in the middle of the hills, cows, shacks, a sign that said “Contra Costa County Line” and I couldn’t turn around!!!

The worst part is it was totally my fault. Last time I went to visit my friend; I got only a little lost. Went North instead of South but I figured it out. Well I wasn’t going to let that happen this time! So I remembered from last time, went against what the written directions told me (because I mean who can trust MapQuest, right?) and I went North instead of South. I had the directions right there in front of me and I trusted my instinct and went the opposite way!

Then, when I realized I messed up and was finally able to turn around (after 20 minutes in the wrong direction) I stop and asked a lady for directions. She seemed very confused, and being the trusting person that I am I took her direction. And guess what? She sent me right back on to the wrong road and I got lost again!!!! Why did I listen to a woman who I knew had no idea where I needed to go?

So, after an hour of driving, frantically crying out to God to reveal the right direction, I swallowed my pride and I called . . . my husband. He pulled up a map and led me to the very place I needed to be.

Then of course I started thinking . . .

Isn’t this what we do? God gives us clear directions, a map for our life, in His word. We trust our instinct and go the way we “think” we should go. We end up lost. Crying out to God for help, a turn-off, revelation, etc. when all the while we’re on a road He never intended us to be on. It’s not until we look to others who can “read the map” with clarity that we can get back on the right path. God heard my cry for help. He provided me with someone who could guide me back on to the correct path. I had to push aside my pride, confess my confusion, and ask for help(from someone who knew the right way to go).

I’m thankful, that even though I was horribly lost, I made it. I was nearly 2 hours late, but still . . . I made it.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)