In Step

Early one morning, members of a traveling family stopped at a rest area. After eight more hours of driving in a hot, cramped car, they stopped to stretch their legs at a very similar-looking rest area. One of the young boys exclaimed, “I know this place. This is where we ate breakfast!”

“Oh, I hope not,” muttered the travel-weary mom. But as she looked around, she could understand how her son had reached that conclusion. Everything—the buildings, the landscaping, the picnic tables—looked the same.

Sometimes, we see our lives like that young boy perceived the roadside rest area. We spend time and effort completing all those routine caregiving tasks—but when we take stock, we conclude that we aren’t getting anywhere. Like the weary mom, we hoped that our efforts would always propel us toward our destination.

Good news: The mom had read the map and road signs and knew she and her family were not where they had started. They hadn’t just been spinning their wheels.

By reading our map (the Bible) and the signs (God’s Spirit speaking to our hearts), we can know that we, too, are moving in the right direction.

It might not look like it. We might not get to our ultimate destination quickly. But we will get there—in God’s time and in His way. Just keep in step with His Spirit!