Following Your GPS

“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.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

Years ago, I had just driven across the 301 Nice Bridge from Maryland to Virginia facing into a breathtakingly beautiful, larger than life autumn sunset. Squinting into the sun made driving a challenge, but then suddenly the sun dropped out of view and it was twilight…that time of day when street signs blend into the landscape and unfamiliar roads all look the same.

Two hours from my destination with darkness coming on, and with a nagging feeling that I had missed my turn, I pulled into a somewhat familiar convenience store. After a cup of tea (everything looks better with hot tea), I pulled out my new smart phone which I had activated just days earlier, to call my daughter. At that moment I remembered that this phone had GPS (which I had never tried). Apprehensively, I tapped a few buttons and a map appeared showing my exact location. I keyed in my daughter’s address and a voice told me to “drive 8 miles and turn right.”

Well, OK!

For the next two hours, I navigated through the dark, unfamiliar, rural roads prompted by and trusting in this voice from the darkness. Finally, recognizing a familiar crossroad, I turned left onto the now familiar highway. Immediately the voice from the darkness (at this point I was calling her Sophie) warned that I was off route and needed to make a legal U turn. At that point, I laughed and ignored her, confident that I was moments from my destination.  Either road would have gotten me there, but I chose the familiar one.

As born-again believers, each of us has his or her own GPS (God Positioning System) to guide us on life’s journeys.  It is activated when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. 

The Holy Spirit is ever-present, waiting patiently for us to call on Him when we need direction in the darkness, When we stay connected, we learn to recognize his promptings as we navigate our way over the bridges and through the potholes, the roadblocks and the detours of life.

Yet, how often do we reach a crossroads and make life-altering decisions based on the familiar instead of listening to His voice? Is it always the right decision?

Darlene Shelton January, 2023