"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)

One summer a few years ago, I was forced to change my route to work. The city planned to replace a small bridge over a creek. I was not happy; that street was the most direct way to my office. Although it probably only added five minutes to my drivetime, I did not look forward to the change in my morning routine. Detours are inconvenient as we find ourselves traveling in unfamiliar areas.

I spent several days trying first one street and then another in my search for the quickest route with the fewest stop signs. I gradually adjusted to the change and soon learned to enjoy my new route. Each day, I checked the progress of an old house being rehabbed and tried to see what had been done since the previous morning. Around another corner, I observed the beautiful landscaping of several yards. On another street I viewed tidy homes with neatly trimmed yards. Soon, instead of impatience, I felt relaxed as I drove my new route.

life's detours

Life will sometimes take us on detours as well. All will be going smoothly until suddenly we face a barricade across our path. This forces us to divert onto unfamiliar roads. Our detour may be a serious illness, a job loss, family discord, or another life-disrupting event. We find it difficult to see any good coming from the situation, so our stress level rises. We do not enjoy this new route life has now forced us to take.

I am reminded of the Old Testament story of Joseph. In his youth, Joseph seemed to be his father's favorite son and enjoyed privileges the other brothers did not receive. Suddenly, Joseph's life took a major detour as those same brothers sold him to a caravan heading to Egypt. They then allowed their father to believe Joseph was dead. This unexpected turn took Joseph to Egypt as a slave. Over the next several years, he endured one roadblock after another.

At last, Joseph's detour led to favor with Pharaoh and a position of power. Now it was the brothers' lives taking a sudden turn. A serious famine left them in dire straits. Learning they could buy grain in Egypt, the brothers traveled there to find food for their families. As the story unfolded, Joseph became the savior of his family, reunited with his father, and reconciled with his brothers.

At first, Joseph probably saw only the unfamiliar and troubling sights of his detour. But looking back, he could see God had a purpose for the detour. That purpose had been hidden from him for many years until the time was right. In Genesis 50:20 Joseph assured his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

god has a purpose

As we struggle with the problems we encounter in our lives, we wonder what good can possibly come as a result. We may have faced a situation for a long time and see no end. But on the other side of the detour, we will discover that God's hand was sustaining us all the time.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31, ESV)

Devotion by Mary Loudermilk