At a conference, the late Dr. Henry Brandt, Christian counselor and author, told a story that relates to all of us who’ve ever dug in our heels and refused to admit we’re wrong. On a trip, he mistakenly took the wrong freeway ramp. When his wife questioned his turn, Dr. Brandt snapped, “I know how to get to Chicago.”
Photo by: Caleb George
To his dismay, all the road signs agreed with his wife. But he gripped the wheel and kept driving—in the wrong direction. To exit and turn around would admit he was wrong. Miles down the road, Dr. Brandt realized the only way to get where he wanted to go was to swallow his pride and turn the car in the opposite direction.
Sometimes, more money, more time won’t fix the problem. We have to turn around.
Sometimes we have to make a U-turn to get where we want to be. Click To TweetThe book of Ruth shows how Naomi’s U-turn brought a miraculous change. Despite pagan Moab’s destructive history with Israel, Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, chose to move his family to Moab instead of enduring a period of famine in Bethlehem.
The Moabites worshiped pagan gods, sometimes with human sacrifices (2 Kings 3:26-27). In the past they had spiritually and sexually seduced the Hebrew men (Numbers 25; 1 Cor. 10:8). Elimelech and both of his sons died in Moab leaving behind Naomi and her two Moabite daughters-in-law.
Have you noticed how pain exaggerates the possible benefits of a compromising escape AND minimizes the liabilities? The temporary detour from God’s perfect will that we hoped would bring relief becomes a different prison that prolongs and complicates our agony.
Luke 15:11–32 tells the story of another person who left full and returned empty. This story is not about someone searching for basic needs but about a rebellious son who squandered his inheritance through immoral living. After losing everything, hunger and a pigpen brought him to his senses. He admitted his sin and returned to his father.
His welcoming father represents our heavenly Father. If we need to return home because we have wandered away to escape pain or because we rebelliously stomped out of God’s fellowship, we can take heart from this young man’s story. Our Father longingly watches for our return.
Photo by: Priscilla Westra
Make the U-Turn
Henry Brandt had to make the U-turn to reach Chicago. The lost son had to leave the pigpen and his rebellious attitude to go home. And Naomi had to say good-bye to Moab to return to Bethlehem. When we realize we’ve been trudging down the wrong road, we too must leave our self-will to return to God.
Consider:
- Where is the road you’re traveling taking you?
- Who are you becoming on this path?
- Will this take you closer to Christ or farther away from Him?
Our heavenly Father always supplies the strength and grace we need to admit our mistakes and come home when we ask Him. And He’s left the light on to welcome us back.
(adapted from Little Women, Big God)
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Blessings,
Debbie W. Wilson
Sometimes I link up with these great sites:
#TestimonyTuesday, #IntentialTuesday, #TuesTalk, #WholeHearted Wednesday, #w2wwordfilledwednesday, #Wedded Wednesday, #Women with Intention, #LivefreeThursday, #Thankful Thursdays, #Grace and Truth, #Dance with Jesus #SoulSurvival
I pray that every word I say and every action I do leads me closer to God. 🙂 Thank you for this message today.
Me too, Melissa. Thanks so much!
For 3 1/2 years, I have been trying to get back to that straight and narrow road. You just confirmed and made God’s words so real with your stories and analogies. Thank you for being so yielded to God and speaking His truth. I pray that your health is improving more and more each day. I can’t wait to start your book study with women God brings my way.
Gods blessings always.
Thank you, Denise! Good for you for persevering. The fact you are now heading in the right direction is more important than perfection. Blessings.
Those are such great questions Debbie that I think we would all do well to ask ourselves periodically so we can make course corrections before we get too far down the wrong road. Your posts always bless me and make me think.
Thank you, Ann! You are a blessing to me.
Love this! Ruth is my favorite woman of the Bible. Naomi’s u-turn ended well just as the prodigal’s sons u-turn. God always leaves the light on for us. What a beautiful image. Thank you for these words and for the blessing of knowing God is always ready to welcome us home.
Thanks, Mary. What a gracious Father we have.
My youngest son is considering a decision that upon reflection for me is not a wise one. But “he’s” the one who has to make that decision. It’s so hard to sit back and watch as our children go in the wrong direction, but that’s where I’m at today, Debbie. Prayers for Braden to be wise beyond his years would be appreciated. Thanks for your insightful posts each week, my friend. Always love visiting and really loved that photo of the man watching on the horse. Just beautiful!
I liked that picture too, Beth.
Lord Jesus, You’ve promised to never leave us. You hold our hands so that when we stumble we won’t be hurled headlong. Please keep Braden in the palm of your hand and direct his steps. Give him a heart that wants your will more than his own and wisdom beyond his experience..
Thank you for this post Debbie. Definitely thought provoking and causes me to reflect in humility on the decisions that I have made and continue to make daily. God bless you x
Thank you, Alethea. Blessings to you.
Debbie, your words were just for me this morning. The Lord has been dealing with me on something lately- when I’ve shared with loved ones they have been as surprised as I was by the U-turn He has directed me on. I had dug my heels into a dream that was His provision for His time, but not His plan for the future. So grateful for His grace, mercy, and kindness in getting us back on course. Your words right from scripture and the image of a U-turn are just precious to me. Saving this one!
Bethany, you blessed me today to hear how God’s encouraged you. What a wonderful Savior!
I love the questions you asked at the end, and copied them down as a reminder for me. I think it is important to ask ourselves these questions occasionally. I don’t like to think of myself as being like the prodigal son, but the truth is that I probably have more things in common with him than I think!
Emily, sometimes we allow circumstances and busyness to nudge us off track and don’t realize it at first. Whether we stomp off or wander off it’s good to know our Father is calling us back!
By His grace, YES. So glad to be your neighbor at #LiveFree today! Thank you for this encouraging word. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by, MD!
So true Debbie. Me and my mother were just talking Monday about the 180 degree turn my life has taken since the stroke. I must admit it took some serious “nudging ” from God to turn me in the right direction. I am trying to learn from those past mistakes and trust God with all my heart and let Him be the compass of my life. In doing that I can avoid U-turns in the future! Thanks for sharing these thoughts. Continued prayers for you and yours. Have a fabulous weekend my friend!
Horace, sometimes God uses severe mercies to turn us around. But I agree. Once we’ve turned around, hopefully we’ll only need a nudge now and then to keep us on track. Love hearing from you, my friend.
There have definitely been times in my life that I needed to make a U-turn and was too slow to do it. So grateful for the grace that God gives us to get back on track! Thanks for sharing this, Debbie.
Lisa, I too am grateful God loves us enough to get us back on track! Thanks for sharing.
I had to make a U-turn in my life while I was still single. I’m just thankful I had that option because I can’t even begin to imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t. Debbie, thanks for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.
Thank you, Lori. I’m thankful the Lord changed the direction of my life in college.
Thank goodness we don’t have a heavenly Father who says “told you so,” but welcomes us with open arms.
Amen, Rachel!