My Navigator

Over the past four years I have relied upon the Navigator on my phone for driving directions around the greater Portland area. For the most part I find this an indispensable tool, however, there are times when I do not follow the instructions, rely upon my instinct, and follow my own way. I drive ignoring the calm, emotionless voice on my phone encouraging me to “make the next u-turn”, or “recalculating”, or questioning if I “want to continue with navigation”. At times I have suffered the consequences of relying upon my instinct rather than trust my Navigator.

Last week while driving through downtown heading South, I ignored the clear instructions through the maze of one-way streets, trolley cars, and the Max toward the freeway, instead I relied upon my own way, a short-cut to beat the traffic. “Ha”, I scoffed as I evaded the heavy traffic streets. I whistled as I zipped through downtown. As I reached the point of access onto the freeway, I realized my access had been changed and now I was headed toward another highway without an opportunity to “recalculate”, “take the next exit”, or “make the next u-turn”. My whistle dried up. With a scowl, I hunched over the steering wheel as I drove several miles before the next off-ramp, backtracked and finally entered the freeway with a 5 mile detour, heavy traffic worse than downtown and wasted time. Unfortunately I have relived this experience many times with the various results of backtracking, dead ends, one-way streets or cul-de-sacs. Several times even my Navigator gave up on me and quit.

This reminds me of the goodness of God. God is good. It is not just his outward character it is his nature. His being is good, perfect and holy. He is just, merciful, longsuffering in patience, and compassionate, and He instructs each of us in how we are to live and conduct our lives in goodness. For us goodness is to know what is right, trust God’s instruction, and follow His course even when we are not sure what lies a head.

The Lord is good and right; he points sinners to the right way. – Psalm 25:8 NCV

God is my navigator through this maze of life with one-way streets, blocked access, dead-ends, construction, detours, accidents ahead, etc. When I listen to His calm, compassionate voice, trust in His instruction and obey I find myself on the right way. When I ignore Him, trust my instinct or think I know better that’s when I get lost, side-tracked, and stuck in an embarrassing and frustrating situation. Fortunately for me, now humbled and repentant, God is longsuffering and merciful and recalculates a route to get back on the right way. God is good and I am glad He is my Navigator.