“You have been wandering around . . long enough; turn.” Deuteronomy 2:3 NLT
“To be meaningful, life must have direction; if it is aimless, it will be pointless.”
My thoughts today are about “going in circles.”
Have you ever gotten turned around until you were not sure which way you came or which way you should go. Recently, I visited a family in an unfamiliar neighborhood. As I left their home, I made a wrong turn, not realizing I was headed the wrong way which then brought me to a dead end. I was so sure I knew which way to go, but now I was confused. I was going in circles. I did not know what to do, except to retrace my path and start over. Life sometimes feels like that too.
It is easy to lose one’s way. You can begin with a sense of direction and purpose, but along the way, distractions and disturbances misdirect your life, often without your noticing that at first. Things that once seemed more obvious to you have become a bit more obscure; answers you once knew for sure have given way to troubling questions; the projected future you were planning on appears less certain, or even possible. Going in circles keeps you busy but takes you nowhere.
By God’s might and miracles, Israel had been delivered from Egypt. Their path was clear; their destination sure. Until somewhere on the way to the Promised Land, they got stuck in one place, going in circles. Along the way, they lost their way. Then God said, “You have been wandering around . . long enough; turn.” Deuteronomy 2:3 NLT. It was time for them to proceed forward. When you find yourself making no progress, you are going in circles. Here’s what I suggest.
You can get lost when you aren’t paying attention. Inattention to where you are and which direction you are going can leave you confused, even wondering how you got where you are. No wonder Jesus frequently warned, “If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:23 NIV. If you aren’t listening to God every day – aren’t listening for His voice in every situation – you could be going in circles.
You will get lost when you insist on having your own way. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death . . but as for God, His way is perfect.” Proverbs 16:25 NIV/2 Samuel 22:31 NKJV. Your way is never a better way than God’s way! The man or woman who thinks otherwise is not wise. Read Isaiah 55:6-11 NKJV. I am grateful for the many times God did not give me what I insisted on having.
You can become lost when you follow bad counsel. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly . . the counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” Psalm 1:1/33:11 NKJV. See also Proverbs 12:15 NKJV. Be careful who you are following. If you do not intend to be where they are going, don’t walk where they are walking. If you don’t want to be like them, you shouldn’t be with them.
You are never lost whenever you are where God wants you to be. In His will doing His will is the only place to be! God can and will use you, but only where He directs you to be. To be meaningful, life must have direction; if it is aimless, it will be pointless.
My prayer for you today is to know and follow the One who says, “I am the Way!”