In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV)

I admit it.  I’ve read the endings of novels before I’ve finished the book. If my twenty-five-year-old son dates someone more than a few times, I yearn to know the future of their relationship.

Recently, on a trip home from Florida, I was reminded how much I dislike surprises and detours. Due to mechanical problems I was put on a flight to Cleveland instead of my scheduled flight directly to Philadelphia.  Upon landing in Cleveland I discovered that the second leg of my flight home was also cancelled because of mechanical problems. I had to spend the night in Cleveland. My plans for that evening and the next day at home were worthless.

As I crawled into bed exhausted I wondered, “God, why did this happen?”

Sometimes in our travels through life, God rearranges our plans.  And He does not notify us in advance or always explain His reasons.  We end up feeling like I did—angry, confused, and worried.  We want to be in control. We like the security of knowing that things will flow according to our prearranged plans.  And we would like to know with certainty how things will turn out. In fact, most of us would appreciate if God would also get our approval.

Has your life taken a few unexpected twists and turns lately?  Are you asking, “Why this? Why now?”

Go ahead and ask, but remember God usually doesn’t inform us in advance of unexpected changes or give us a detailed rationale.  Unfortunately, one companion on the road of life is uncertainty. Yet with uncertainty comes the Christian’s certainty that God is directing our paths.  He knows where we’ll land and why.  Sometimes God just needs to rearrange things to get us where He wants us.

Georgia Shaffer

Author & speaker, President of Mourning Glories Ministries

This week’s devotionals are taken from “Real Victory for Real Life”, volumes 1 and 2. To purchase your copy, call 1-800-453-7942.