Traveling On

Rough Road Ahead, the sign read.  In a few moments I knew what it meant.  The highway was in bad repair and felt like a washboard.  Seemingly, it was being readied for resurfacing. Presently I saw a sign in big red letters saying Follow Detour.  We were on a trip and were going through some road construction areas.

Pretty soon, we were notified of Trucks Entering Highway.  This route was like a maze.  We had come this way to avoid the traffic of going through the city, but keeping up with all the ins and outs, exits and redefined lanes was a challenge.  We could never have done it without our GPS.

Wouldn't it be nice, I thought, if the road of life had signs like this warning us of what lay ahead? Maybe we could fortify ourselves to be ready for the rough road coming up--a financial back-set or a relationship break-down.  Or if we had a heads-up about the detour in our plans that was about to happen: unexpected illness, a job lay-off or other circumstances beyond our control that made us shelve hopes and dreams indefinitely.

What about the trucks entering life's highway?  Some loaded with garbage that we could do without. Others carrying junk that simply weighs us down.  Trucks with no clue posted on the side as to what they were hauling, the contents a mystery waiting to change our lives, for better or for worse. Trucks we don't see coming that broadside us and knock us off course.

Finally, though, we would break through to a wide expanse.  Traffic flowing smoothly, a chance to look around and enjoy the scenery.  Even though it is winter, the farther south we drove, we began to see green grass and trees shrouded in a green mist of budding leaves! It made me think of the encouraging words of Psalm 18:19: "He brought me forth into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me."

Or as it says in Psalm 66:12, "Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water, but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place."

Thank God for our heavenly GPS--God's Positioning System! It may have felt like men were riding over our heads in their fast cars zipping in and out. But even though we don't know the future, just as our auto GPS was always one step ahead of us, alerting us when to keep left, or exit right, God's GPS guides us faithfully though life's journey. There is Light at the end of the tunnel! And there were welcoming loved ones waiting to meet us at the end of our trip!