Where Are We Going?

"Just trust me and obey my directions. I'll guide you turn by turn." Those had been her father's words when they first set out on this special trip together.

At first, Jessie had been excited. She knew her father loved her, and she could hardly wait to see where he'd planned for them to go. In her mind, she kept imagining possible destinations.

Then, one by one, they had been passing the destinations she had in mind. As she passed each familiar intersection, she'd ask her father, "Are you sure we shouldn't turn here?" But he'd shake his head.

As one possible destination after another zoomed by, Jessie's mind instantly replaced it with another possible location and began racing with all the wonders in store for her there. Ah, we turned left on Maple. Maybe we're going to end up at Mary's house. We'll have so much fun together--that must be why Father had us pass by the store I'd hoped we would stop at and why he had us turn onto Maple, she reasoned...until they passed by Mary's house too.

To add to her discouragement, Jessie noticed as she passed Mary's house that many of her good friends were there. She also saw that another friend had stopped at one of the stores Jessie had longed to stop at. It seemed everyone else got to experience the places she dreamed about.

On and on they drove. Disappointment followed disappointment for Jessie as one after another of her hopes came to nothing. Sometimes her father clearly told her to bypass a road she wanted to travel; other times a roadblock or impassible road made it impossible to go the way she wanted, ruining all her plans.

Jessie kept driving, but as she continued her heart began to feel heavy. She knew deep down her father knew what he was doing, but she still felt unsettled. Was she just wasting her life driving around aimlessly?

"Father, can't you please tell me where we're going? I'll be fine with anywhere. Just tell me where," Jessie pleaded.

Jessie's father looked at her lovingly. "Jessie, do you trust me?"

Jessie nodded. She knew above all else that she could trust her father. "But have I misunderstood your directions?"

Jessie's father smiled. "Do you really think I'd let you go far the wrong way without correcting you? You can trust me to pull you back on track."

"But Joanne and Nadia ended up at Mary's house and-"

"And don't look at where others end up. They have their own challenges and temptations. Don't forget that I am here with you, leadng and guiding, and I love you perfectly. My dear daughter," Jessie's father added, "won't you just trust me to lead you where you need to go and start enjoying our time together in the car? " 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6