Are We Almost There Yet?
How many times have parents heard those words from their children? I’m sure my parents heard those words continually when we first started in full time ministry. Back in 1991, I was seven and my sister, Sandy was ten.
Sandy and I have always been good buddies, but you can imagine what would happen on those long road trips. We did plenty of arguing in that back seat! After a while, one of our parents would finally have enough. “Alright Richard, turn your head and look out of your window, and Sandy you look out of your window! Don’t cross the center line of that seat! Don’t talk, touch, look, or anything!”
Now that we have been traveling for over twenty-seven years, a few things have changed. For one thing, me and Sandy have figured out how to get along with each other! I’m also no longer just a backseat passenger, but a frequent driver. As a person gets older, their perspective on the journey begins to change. In this devotion, I want to share some life lessons that have been learned from living on the road.
Delays
One year, we were traveling along the interstate and the traffic kept stopping in front of us. Why the slow down? Was there an accident or a construction zone up ahead? It ended up being two people who were having a picnic in the center median and everyone was slowing down to have a look. Delays are painful because your progress is hindered by circumstances that you can’t control. In Daniel chapter 10, we read about a spiritual delay:
Then said he [the angel] unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
Daniel 10:12-13
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
A delay does not mean that we have been denied by our heavenly Father. Sure, it’s easy to grow impatient like the child in the backseat. Lord, are we almost there yet? Why the delay? If we are going to trust God for the answer, we must trust him when the answer is delayed!
Detours
By definition, a detour is: a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure. Joseph would certainly not have chosen the detour is his life as a seventeen year old boy. But while his brothers were scheming to be rid of him, God was planning a detour that would ultimately save the nation of Israel. As Joseph looked back over his life, he said to his brothers:
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Genesis 50:20
A detour is not an dead end! Your life may not be in a place that you would have chosen but trust the Lord with every detour sign that He places along your path.
Many people have asked us how we travel so many miles every year. Our answer? By taking it one mile at a time. The same concept applies spiritually. Don’t be discouraged in thinking about all that is ahead of you. You weren’t created to face tomorrow’s problems today. Sometimes you just have to take it one day at a time.
Are we almost there yet? That question may still be ringing in your ears. Weary Christian, never forget that God is the God of right now! He is with you right now. He is guiding you through the delays and detours to bring you into a place of blessing that you would have never reached on your own. Yes, you are almost there! Keep trusting Him!