He called back. “What highway do I turn off of? What is the exit number? How far do I go?  When do you think I will get there? Will you call the coach for me?”

I could relate to my son. Although I rarely leave my house without exact directions if I am going to an unfamiliar location, I often start out my day going into unfamiliar territory. I don’t get directions from my Heavenly Father and I soon find myself in a panic calling upon Him to hurry and give me direction, now! Or I need for Him to bail me out of my bad turn.  I decided it was easier to just do it my way, rather than take it slowly and do it God’s way.

Do I really need to turn to God all the time, each turn I take, everywhere I go? I have learned one thing by choosing to travel the highway of life without directions from my Father. If I decide to ignore His urging and prompting, life has a way of quickly becoming very difficult. God’s way is always best.

I remember coming to a point in my life once my children were tucked safely away in school. I was a teacher, but had put aside my career to stay at home and be a mother. Now I could return to the classroom. A job opened up. I went for an interview. The next thing I knew, I was reporting to work in late August.

I never discussed my plans with the Lord. I didn’t ask Him which way I should go. Should I stay home and continue to serve in my church and contribute to my community? Should I return to work? What was best for my sons? What would be optimum for our family? I didn’t ask my Father for direction. I wish I had. After teaching for two years, I knew that God had a new direction for my life. I finished my career in the classroom on a sour note. Before that I had had nothing but wonderful experiences with my students and nothing but positive reports about life in the halls of high school.

A few years later my family moved. Obediently, we went to church as soon as we arrived in our new town. I didn’t ask God for direction when it came to finding a church to join. All I knew was that I wanted a church home, Christian friends, and a youth group for my son. We joined the first church we visited. It was a grand church. God was honored; His Word was preached. It was not the church where God would have me thrive and give. It soon became evident that I had not asked for direction. It was not easy to backtrack and find a new way.