My Fight with the GPS

Have you ever argued with your GPS about which way is the best way to get where you are going? Recently, my GPS and I had our biggest argument ever! I usually listen and just go the way it's telling me to go but this time I knew what road I wanted to take and my GPS was insistent that I go another way. I wanted to take the main freeway and not the old back highway. The problem was, I was in an unfamiliar place and had no idea how to get to the freeway I wanted. I tried all sorts of tricks and finally used my iPhone. The whole time I followed my phone, my GPS kept "recalculating" and trying to turn me around. Finally, it looked like my GPS and phone were giving the same directions so I turned off my phone and started following the GPS again. By this time, it had been about a half hour ordeal and I was feeling quite triumphant that my way worked. Then my GPS took me right back to where the whole thing started. I was so frustrated. Angrily I waved the white flag of surrender and followed the dark back road which the GPS insisted I take. It worked out fine. I got home safely. If I had just followed the GPS in the first place, it would have probably been a faster route than my way.

How often do we treat God the way I did my GPS? We come up with the greatest plans. Plans that sound safe and make sense to us; but God presents a different plan. Instead of immediately surrendering and following Him, we debate, argue, connive, and try to make God see our point of view. We try to make God see why our way makes the most sense. We even try to go our way despite hearing God whispering or maybe even shouting to turn back around. For some reason, we forget that, just like the GPS has knowledge of all of the roads around us and where they lead, God sees the big picture of our life. He knows what's best for us even if we don't understand it in the moment.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV), "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths." The Message says it like this: "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track."