THE SHORTEST WAY IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST WAY

by Tammy Phillips
AUGUST 20, 2021

 “A man’s steps [are] of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24 NKJV)

We went to a concert the other night.  I was waiting on our group outside the restaurant and taking pictures of the beautiful sunset across the Nashville skyline. Kris called me inside and said they were waiting on me.   Our leader led us on a new path to the concert arena.  It was short cut that wound through the block to the arena, instead of around it.   It was lively, pleasant, and a fun way to go. 

We had been guests of this company and sat in their box a few times before.  When we got to the arena, I knew the way to their box.  I knew we had to go up a big escalator and take a left.  In general, I am pretty good with directions.  However, we had entered the building through a different entrance.  The escalator was to the left and not right in front of us.  We did not take the left to go up.  I chose to follow our leader to the right because I thought she knew the way and was taking us on another fun, short cut.    I also thought that we might be sitting in a different area because I had not looked at our tickets.  Our leader had not been in the arena as recently as we had, and she was a bit confused.  We wandered left, then right, then left, then up and up, and then back down, and finally arrived at our destination. 

She was the leader and I followed her because it was the right thing to do.  If I had not followed her, I could have gotten there faster, but Kris would not have run into and spoken with a friend.  Who knows why we had to wander over Bridgestone, but I did so out of respect for the leader?

A man’s steps are of the Lord; thus, we must respectfully follow the leader or be lost. When we attempt to go our own way, we end up wandering blindly through life.  The Lord says, “For My thoughts [are] not your thoughts, nor [are] your ways My ways.” (Isaiah 55:8 NKJV). He also says, ” I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8 NKJV)

Who knows why we have to follow the Lord down different paths?  Sometimes the path to our destination or what we want seems so clear, yet He takes a different way, like our leader did at the concert.   We cannot understand His ways because they are not always the way we would take.   Just remember, ” The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23 NKJV)

I enCOURAGE you to follow the Lord every step of the way.  When you don’t know which way to go, wait for His leading.  He will not lead you astray even though it might seem the long way around.