Turn around when possible.

A couple of weeks ago, I moved about four miles from where I used to live. I have driven to my job every day for the past year and know exactly where it is on a map. I know how to get there…from my old house.

On Monday, I got into my car, turned up my Frank Sinatra Pandora station, and headed toward the highway. I saw a sign to get on going south and confidently pulled into that lane. I got on the highway and drove for about 2 miles, and then it hit me. Downtown is north of where I live. I was driving south. What’s even worse is that I had pulled up directions on my phone before I left for work. I just didn’t pay enough attention to them.

If you have ever ridden in the car with me, you will know this is a regular occurrence. When you get into my car, not only are you a passenger, but you have stepped into the role of sole navigator. I will most likely ask you which way to turn at every intersection until we reach our destination. If I try to make a turn on my own without asking you, assume I am wrong and correct me. If you didn’t know your responsibility before,  you do now. If you can’t handle it, you might want to hitch a ride elsewhere or accept that we will have to turn around at least 2 times per destination.

Thank goodness for iPhone maps. Without them, I would never get anywhere, at least not in a timely manner. Before my iPhone, I relied solely on my Tom-Tom. He (yes, he) wasn’t as forgiving as my iPhone. Every time I took a wrong turn, the screen began to flash, and Tom (in his British voice) would frantically tell me, “Turn around when possible” over and over again until I corrected my mistake. Tom needed to learn a lesson on patience, and I apparently needed to learn one on city mapping. 

Many of you I’m sure would assume that it is possible for anyone to pick up a sense of direction over time. I don’t like to point fingers, but I’m going to do it anyways. You are wrong. I have an innate ability to get lost and I am reminded of it on a daily basis.

Don’t we all though? Each of us on our own is prone to getting lost and making the wrong turns at life’s intersections.

Isaiah 64:6 "We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind."

Each of us is born with a sin nature. We have an innate ability to get lost. 

Isaiah 53:6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way."

Galatians 5:19-21  "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God."

That’s quite a list. When I stop and look at it though, I would be lying to say I have not seen something on that list evidenced it my life. We are all guilty and succumb to making wrong choices and wrong turns.

The good news is we don’t have to remain lost in our transgressions. We are provided a way out.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Through following Christ in faith, not only are we saved, but we are given the ultimate navigator to walk through life with us. This navigator gives us countless tools to help us make the right turns when life’s directions become a little bit fuzzy: The Holy Spirit, Scripture, prayer, mentors, and a body of believers to name a few.

However, even with directions clearly laid out in front of us and a navigator consistently in our passenger seat, too often, we still turn the wrong way. We head south knowing that the correct destination is north.

Have you ever knowingly gone a different direction than you know God had intended for you? If you have, you probably have heard a still small voice saying, “Turn around when possible.” This voice isn’t always audible. It’s forgiving, subtle, and patient.

Sometimes we choose to turn down the volume or ignore it completely and continue on our way. However, like on my gps, the warning signal will not disappear and the correct path will not be shown until I choose to follow the roadmap in front of me.

Are you following the roadmap placed in front of you, or are you succumbing to your innate ability to get lost? We are given the tools, and we have the map. We just have to heed what they say.

Even though I make wrong turns both physically and spiritually, I always have the opportunity to turn around.

I am thankful today for grace, and I am thankful for that still, small voice. Also, I am thankful I don’t hear God’s voice in an angry British accent.

“Turn around when possible.” The abounding grace and joy found only in the Lord is waiting in the path he has provided for you.