NOW WHAT?

We were happily cruising through life together when one day we hit a dead end. All we could see ahead of us was a dense jungle. I burst into tears. We were so close! We were ready and willing for our next season to start. Our next adventure with God. On that road.

But when I stepped back I noticed that what seemed like a dead end was really a “T” in the road … yes, the road I’m on has indeed ended, but now I see that we have a choice to make.

• Turn left.
• Turn right.
  Stay put, trying desperately to figure out what to do.
• Plow through the jungle to stay on this road.
• Turn back.

At first glance “stay put” might seem ridiculous – who would do that? ME, that’s who.

My brain: What if I choose the wrong one? What if God is trying to teach me patience and I need to stand still? Maybe I’m supposed to persevere and press on through the forest? And why oh why does the past suddenly look attractive?

Truly you guys, how do we sort this out? Sometimes when I get to the T it’s obvious which way to go because there’s really no choice. It’s still difficult because my plans were on that other road. Courage and surrender are both needed to make that hard corner, even if you’re sure it’s the only next move.

But what if it’s not clear which way to turn? Here’s the process that must happen for me if the next move is not obvious. First, I have to realize and accept that the dead end is really dead. Make sure it’s not just a detour. If it’s not a detour and I still don’t have a clear sense of which direction to go – here’s where courage and faith come in – I pray, PICK ONE and start.

A dead end is the perfect setup for paralysis. Fear, indecision, confusion. If I’m trying to sort this out on my own, I will not get it right. But if I consider it prayerfully, I can trust God to lead me through each next step, whether it’s how I thought it would look or not.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is so familiar, right? But read it in the light of dead ends and see if it doesn’t resonate just a little differently:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Finally: As tempting as it is to hold on to the familiar, must not try to force my way through the jungle OR turn back – because that road does not fit me anymore.

~Angie