A friend of mine told me about the Waze app last year – it’s a GPS that not only tells you the best way to a particular destination, but also which routes have traffic delays at any given time. Others using the Waze app can add their comments – an accident reported an hour ago might be cleared now; a police officer is hidden under an overpass; get into 
the left lane early because the right lane is closed. It’s fantastic. While the app can’t make traffic delays go away, it can make those delays bearable – and it can tell us how to get around the worst part of them.
For example, we were driving back from Tennessee yesterday when we hit terrible traffic on I-75 north of Atlanta. It was frustrating to go from 75 mph to 15. Especially when the traffic was backed up as far as we could see, and we had no idea what was going on, how long it would last, or anything. But then, I opened up Waze, saw there was an accident 4 miles ahead. Waze rerouted us around the accident itself. It still took longer than normal to get through Atlanta. But not as long as it could have taken. Plus, there is something comforting about knowing there is an end in sight, rather than just seeing the long lines of cars stretching far into the horizon.
It made me think: God’s Word is a lot like that app. Infinitely better, of course, seeing as it was written by the Creator of the universe and all. Here’s what I mean: In this life, we are not guaranteed paths that are free of all obstacles. In fact, we are told over and over again that we WILL face trials, temptations, difficulties. Sometimes, when we see those, we can get frustrated, upset. We can want to get off God’s path – it’s so hard! – and just go our own way. But those paths are always dangerous.
When faced with “stand-stills” or unexpected delays in our “travels”, we must look to God’s word. In that, we can find direction. The Psalms and Proverbs tell us time and again that if we put our trust in God, He will make our paths straight. The epistles give us practical helps for how to live – what to do, what not do – so we can avoid the worst of the difficulties. Every book in God’s amazing word is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (II Tim, 3:16).
So if the life path you’re on right now seems to be at a stand still – or even if it’s not! – open up God’s word, ask for direction. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6)
