What God Taught Me about "WRONG TURNS"

Many times we worry about reaching God's purpose for our lives, and "messing up." I think about this a lot and definitely try to live pleasing to God (although I know I fall VERY, VERY short).

Anyway, God has really shown me recently that no matter what, our path is our path, and if we truly want to get there, no matter how many mistakes or "wrong turns," we will.

And we will get there, b/c just as in life, God will use wrong turns as nothing more than "DETOURS." As you know in driving, "wrong turns" often seem to "ruin or mess up" your path of getting to your destination. But in reality, they often end up being nothing more than DETOURS. And when you look over the course of your life, sometimes a detour is a greater blessing than if you had just stayed on the straight path.

I say this, b/c so many of us get weary as Christians trying to be "perfect." And while I believe that God made us in His "perfect" image, He knew in making us that we would not be perfect. You say "how could that be, cocoberry?" I say "it's because if we were perfect, why would we need God?" I don't think we would "need" God if we were so "perfect." God makes our crooked places straight. This is also why we need one another. We as people can help each other, even when we don't realize it.

I think of the many times I was just so eager to get somewhere (literally). And I got in my car and drove, only to get lost...and frustrated. The more I tried to get on the right track, the more lost I would get. But if you would just stop, for a moment, and realize that you will get there, you will realize that you are on a DETOUR. And oh, the things you can discover on a detour. Once, I discovered this beautiful shopping mall on a DETOUR. I never would have found it if I had gotten lost

Other times, I have seen beautiful God-made (not man-made) scenery, such as mountains, trees, lakes, etc or beautiful man-made homes, buildings, restaurants. Had I not gotten lost, I never would have found these things. Sometimes, the things we will cherish the most are the things we find when we are most "lost."

So, no matter where you are in life, even if you are feeling lost, know that you are just on a DETOUR. EVEN IF YOU PUT YOURSELF THERE. EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T TRUST GOD, AND MADE A DECISION, AND NOW FEEL THAT YOU ARE "PAYING FOR IT." KNOW THAT GOD WILL WORK IT OUT, AND HEY, YOU MAY COME OUT WITH SOME NEW FRIENDS OR EVEN BETTER BLESSINGS THAN YOU COULD HAVE EXPECTED. YEAH, YOU MAY GET TO THE PARTY, "A LITTLE LATE (FASHIONABLY OF COURSE)," BUT AS THEY SAY "BETTER LATE THAN NEVER" OR "SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST"

Lastly, I just want to say, at the end of your life, will it really matter if you used route 87 or route 96 to get there?

cocoberry10 said:

Many times we worry about reaching God's purpose for our lives, and "messing up." I think about this a lot and definitely try to live pleasing to God (although I know I fall VERY, VERY short).

Anyway, God has really shown me recently that no matter what, our path is our path, and if we truly want to get there, no matter how many mistakes or "wrong turns," we will.

And we will get there, b/c just as in life, God will use wrong turns as nothing more than "DETOURS." As you know in driving, "wrong turns" often seem to "ruin or mess up" your path of getting to your destination. But in reality, they often end up being nothing more than DETOURS. And when you look over the course of your life, sometimes a detour is a greater blessing than if you had just stayed on the straight path.

I say this, b/c so many of us get weary as Christians trying to be "perfect." And while I believe that God made us in His "perfect" image, He knew in making us that we would not be perfect. You say "how could that be, cocoberry?" I say "it's because if we were perfect, why would we need God?" I don't think we would "need" God if we were so "perfect." God makes our crooked places straight. This is also why we need one another. We as people can help each other, even when we don't realize it.

I think of the many times I was just so eager to get somewhere (literally). And I got in my car and drove, only to get lost...and frustrated. The more I tried to get on the right track, the more lost I would get. But if you would just stop, for a moment, and realize that you will get there, you will realize that you are on a DETOUR. And oh, the things you can discover on a detour. Once, I discovered this beautiful shopping mall on a DETOUR. I never would have found it if I had gotten lost

Other times, I have seen beautiful God-made (not man-made) scenery, such as mountains, trees, lakes, etc or beautiful man-made homes, buildings, restaurants. Had I not gotten lost, I never would have found these things. Sometimes, the things we will cherish the most are the things we find when we are most "lost."

So, no matter where you are in life, even if you are feeling lost, know that you are just on a DETOUR. EVEN IF YOU PUT YOURSELF THERE. EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T TRUST GOD, AND MADE A DECISION, AND NOW FEEL THAT YOU ARE "PAYING FOR IT." KNOW THAT GOD WILL WORK IT OUT, AND HEY, YOU MAY COME OUT WITH SOME NEW FRIENDS OR EVEN BETTER BLESSINGS THAN YOU COULD HAVE EXPECTED. YEAH, YOU MAY GET TO THE PARTY, "A LITTLE LATE (FASHIONABLY OF COURSE)," BUT AS THEY SAY "BETTER LATE THAN NEVER" OR "SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST"

Lastly, I just want to say, at the end of your life, will it really matter if you used route 87 or route 96 to get there?

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well said cocoberry 10.....the bolded really said something to me..thanks

Thanks, I really needed that.

Thanks for the reminder why life detours can be blessings.

Thank you!! I needed this!

Amen

Thank U

Yes, thank you for that!!

Thank you Cocoberry, thank you. God Bless.

That was very inspirational. Thanks for posting.

NOLA2NY said:

This thread was truly a blessing. I have come to the realization about a few things in my perfectly crooked walk with Jesus. My steps are ordered and God always straightens everything out! He knows what my detours WILL be before I make them and he has already provided a ram in the bush. He has given me the option of taking the the interstate of the scenic route but HIS Will, will be done. I'm working on taking the interstate cause often times the scenic route has a lot of narrow un-maintained congested roads with no street lights, lots of pot holes and dead ends.

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This is very true and definitely what I was trying to portray in the thread. And remember, even though the scenic route has pot holes, dead ends, and congested, windy roads, it also has something the interstate doesn't usually have.........scenery (which includes trees, beautiful houses, residential areas, sometimes mountains, lakes, etc.). So in the end, even though you "went through more" to get it, you also gained something you wouldn't have gotten on the "straight path" (not encouraging anyone to go off of God's path, but since we all do at times, remember this)

cocoberry10 said:

This is very true and definitely what I was trying to portray in the thread. And remember, even though the scenic route has pot holes, dead ends, and congested, windy roads, it also has something the interstate doesn't usually have.........scenery (which includes trees, beautiful houses, residential areas, sometimes mountains, lakes, etc.). So in the end, even though you "went through more" to get it, you also gained something you wouldn't have gotten on the "straight path" (not encouraging anyone to go off of God's path, but since we all do at times, remember this)

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You are asbolutely correct Coco...I have learned to enjoy the journey!

NOLA2NY said:

You are asbolutely correct Coco...I have learned to enjoy the journey!

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Yeah, that's something I'm learning to do I am definitely currently on the "scenic route," and I think I'm actually on one of those pothole roads right now. But I know that somehow, someway, someday God is going to put me back on the path. I just have to keep the faith!

Hi Cocoberry!

I just felt like saying Hi. I enjoy your post and you are a friend in my head!

Nola2Ny

This was definitely a word of encouragement that I needed to hear. I've been asking God to speak to me about such topics as this, and He used you to do so. Thanks for sending out this much needed blessing.