“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers.  “Come follow me,” Jesus said. At once they left their nets and followed Him.”  Matthew 4:18-19

Following Jesus doesn’t come with a master plan complete with intricate details. This is disturbing and distressing for those of us who like to know exactly where we’re going before we set out on the journey. We want a map with roads defined and detours clearly marked. No surprises, please. But Peter and Andrew obviously knew just enough about the character of the one who called them to leave their nets, their secure profession, their comfortable family life and embark on a see-what-happens life. Toward the end of his life, another of those early fishermen who chose to walk with Jesus wrote that he and the band of faithful followers – ‘heard, saw with our eyes, looked at, and our hands touched’ this Jesus, and by such following, their joy was complete.

Although we don’t have the physical Jesus in our presence, we actually have so much more.  As we read about His life in the Bible we can begin to more fully understand the character of the one calling us. And once we choose to ‘leave our nets and follow Him’ His very presence comes to dwell within us. Then the see-what-happens life takes on excitement, challenge and deep joy.

by Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Life’s Uncertainty Teaches God Can be Trusted

God will open doors of support and close doors that will take you in the wrong direction.

The Detours of LIfe

The post It’s a See-What-Happens Life appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

While we were driving from Florida to Texas on I-10, our planned schedule came to a screeching halt in Louisiana. After waiting for an hour, we crawled en masse to the next exit where law enforcement diverted all westbound traffic off the highway. We saw why. An 18-wheeler lay on its side, blocking all lanes.

In that swampy area, the only parallel road had two lanes. We kept crawling for another hour, sandwiched between other vehicles, until the next exit was accessible. At first it was maddening to get so behind schedule. Then we started noticing trees, flowers, birds, interesting houses, and yard art, things we wouldn’t know existed had we kept driving 70 mph on the highway.

In the same way, our lives take unexpected detours when we experience job loss, a forced move, serious illness, or death of family or friends. We have choices: we can grumble, curse, or scream about the unfairness of changing our plans, or we can trust God, pray for wisdom, and accept the new route open to us.

For all we know, God might have placed that detour in our path, either to prevent a worse tragedy from occurring, or to experience unforeseen blessings along the way.

Lord, help me put my trust in you when my plans fail and grief and disappointment result. Let me accept the unexpected detour graciously, with faith that you will guide me safely through my journey. Amen.

By Katy Huth Jones
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• 14 Verses for when it Feels Like God is Silent
• Personal Revival
• The Roadblocks of Life by John Grant
• Dealing with Discouragement – by Charles Stanley

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The post Unexpected Detours appeared first on Thoughts About God.