Stop! Make a U-Turn!

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“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8

It felt like the wrong way, but I continued driving hoping to see something that I recognized. As soon as I considered turning around, I would see something that seemed familiar. Or was it just similar to another picture in my memory? Buildings and landmarks were deceiving. I refused to ask my GPS to head me in the right direction, because I knew where I was going and didn’t need the talking map to lead the way. The further I drove, the more convinced I was that it was definitely the wrong way. At that point I found myself many miles from where I wanted to be. Finally, I decided to stop and make a U-turn, heading in the opposite direction.

A U-turn is a wonderful way out of the wrong destination. You can quickly stop, turn and head in the right direction. Sometimes we drive until we come to a dead-end and find ourselves in trouble, but why not just make a quick U-turn before arriving at a dead-end street?

This scenario is far too familiar to everyday life! I can seriously believe that I’m heading the right way, even though there are signs along the way telling me a different story. I ignore the signs and head on in the way I have determined to be the right path. I trust my own senses and keep driving my life down the same road. I trust what I see with my eyes and hear with my ears and all the while I am going further in the wrong direction. I find myself to be stubborn and confident that I KNOW what I need to know, and I don’t need to pause and ask for directions.

“God, where am I? How did I get here? How do I get out of here? Please show me the right way!”

Have you noticed that sin will lead you down a road you never intended to go? It grips you and propels you into a dark dead-end. It’s easy to continue bit-by-bit, but if not quickly stopped, it will lead you a long distance from home.

Stop! Make a U-Turn!

Fear will drive a life right into a pit? It pushes and pulls you in the wrong direction. Your thinking pivots crazy and soon you are playing out every possible horrible event that might become reality. Before you know it, you have arrived at an undesirable dead end of anxiety, despair and panic.

Stop! Make a U-Turn!

And what about expectations? Mis-placed expectations will lead you into the dead-end of disappointment. Others didn’t perform as you expected and suddenly you are on the side street of bitterness, anger and judgement. Lord, how did I get here?

Stop! Make a U-Turn!

Unforgiveness is like an endless roundabout that twists and turns constantly tormenting your life. The only way off of this meaningless circle is to exit by laying down your rights and giving the gift of forgiveness to yourself, others and yes, even God.

Stop! It’s time to make a U-Turn before we go any further.

Pride, self-sufficiency and self-confidence will lead us down the wrong path. If we disregard God’s word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will end up miles away from the destination we were hoping for. We cannot trust the voice of another. We cannot lean on our own senses. The living presence of God will lead us in the right way. His word will never lead us in the wrong direction. He waits for us to stop and make a u-turn.

Lord, reveal your word to me that I may walk in your ways.

What joy and peace fills our heart as we turn and head in the way of the Lord. He does not leave us to figure it out on our own. He waits patiently for us to allow Him to lead us.

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6