Exodus 13:17

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.  For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

By nature, I’m a very impatient man.  Invariably, I dream today and want to do tomorrow.  In my mind, I know change can be slow, progress takes time and that you can’t force growth.

There are times when we hear God’s voice, we see the obvious path to success and, yet, we’re still forced down the longer, harder road.

• It’s easy to rebel because we can’t see the pain right around the corner of the short path.
• It’s easy to grumble because we don’t recognize the hidden flaw in our plan.
• It’s hard to trust your direction when everything on the map you’re holding says you’re going the wrong way.
• It’s hard to remember that God’s vision stretches infinitely farther than ours.

And it’s moments like those when we have to remind ourselves…  God’s most foolish idea is wiser than my most brilliant one.

He has a plan to bring us to the end of the race.  He will protect us when we need protecting and steer us when we need steering.  He will guide us when we need guiding and rescue us when we need rescuing.  He will send us down the long road…but it will be the right road.