God Is In the Detour

My friend looked in his rearview mirror and saw the sign to a church, which propelled him to whip his car into an unplanned detour. His life’s trajectory changed that Sunday by his decision. Each time I hear the story, I have a picture in my mind of that mirrored reflection, its sliver view, and of God’s invisible bigger plan. For his U-turn set him in a new direction, one of following Christ.

Detours aren’t always a choice. Unlike my friends’, their route isn’t always a happy one, but often necessary.

In Acts 9, Saul’s U-turn on the road to Damascus, radically detoured him from the life he had formerly lived. While Saul had letters signed and sealed to bind and bring in those of the Way, an epic detour stopped him. Jesus met Him on the road. (Acts 9:1).

Every time I read it, I am amazed all over again by God’s choosing a murderer and hater to receive Christ’s abundant mercy. Mercy not just for Saul, but also for me.

And then there was Ananias, minding his own business, going about despite persecution, trying to follow Jesus, while leading the Damascus baby-church.

“Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul,” the Lord told Ananias. (Acts 9:11 ESV)

For the detour of Saul placed all the rest of the believers on their own circuitous routes.

Saul’s participation in the martyrdom of Stephen had hit the grapevine of Damascus. The very name of Saul brought terror.

Ananias thought maybe the Lord had missed the memo on Saul and so he reminded Him. “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name,” (Acts 9:13-14 ESV).

Ananias hadn’t been on the same road with Saul. He didn’t see the bright light, hear the voice of Jesus, or see the Risen Savior. The unprecedented route change upended Saul and Ananias’ plans.

Saul, blinded by the bright light and stunned by the revelation of the resurrected Jesus, was led to the street called Straight, a destination he never imagined. Humbled and broken, potholed and shaken, Jesus showed Saul, the things he must suffer for Christ his Lord.

Nor did Ananias ever expect his path would take him to pray with a renowned murderer on a street called Straight.

Life is full of twisty, turn-y, unexpected detours. And along the way, there are often people we meet, provokers of unpleasant detours, herald-ers of hurt and mistrust. And in that tiny sliver of our vision, it is difficult to recognize that Jesus is Sovereign in each detour.

“Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” Paul (Saul) asked later while establishing his credentials in (1 Corinthians 9:1 (ESV).

It is so very difficult to look beyond wrong, mistreatment, and hate. It is nearly impossible to see the good through the bad. But don’t lose heart. There might be Saul’s among us.

And in every detour, we have choices. We can forgive. We can offer grace. We can show love. And even in the uncertainties, we can show mercy and kindness.

Ananias chose to trust God’s word to Him. His obedience to God’s call demonstrated forgiveness and kindness. Paul became one of the most influential church leaders and inspired authors of the New Testament.We have choices. Forgiveness. Trust. Grace. Mercy. Love. Share on X

Bumps and twists, when laid on the altar of submission, offer a clear view of the presence of Jesus in our lives. They give a panorama that we would have otherwise missed. Those imposed difficulties which take us on an unplanned journey bring richer testimony and new purpose. Jesus brings defined perspective and stronger trust through collisions of hardship with faith.

We jolt along these roads of life. Over and over God changes our course, in lovely ways but also in difficult ones. And we might throw up our hands and cry, “I don’t want to go there!.”

But when those alterations happen, although course changing, may we choose the right way, leaving far behind blame and distrust. May forgiveness and kindness mark our journey. May the tiny sliver we see of God’s vastness in the rear view mirror propel us forward with hope and assurance that He sees beyond the curve and into His love.

*Feature Photo by John Cardamone on Unsplash