Detours: Making Sense of Where You Are

Reflect

Detours are paths we don’t expect. They’re the setback you didn’t see coming… they’re the diagnosis you never imagined for yourself, the job you were overlooked for, the betrayal you least expected. When Joseph visited his brothers, he encountered a detour that would change the rest of his life. In an instant, he went from being the favored son to a helpless commodity. Our natural response to a detour is often to view it as a dead end. But the beauty of God’s redemptive nature is that these perceived obstacles often turn out to be opportunities.

Joseph’s brothers sold him for 20 pieces of silver and faked his death to discourage anyone from attempting to rescue him. This was a low point. There is no denying the pain and sense of betrayal Joseph must’ve felt.

Jesus knows what Joseph was feeling. He too was rejected and sold for a price. He was mocked by strangers and betrayed by someone He loved. Isaiah 53 says, “…by his wounds we are healed.”

When we encounter detours like these we can find comfort in the fact that Jesus knows what it’s like to face incredible pain. Jesus knows, and Jesus cares. That doesn’t mean it won’t hurt. But we have a Savior who sympathizes with our pain.

React

Are you facing a detour? If so, bring any pain or anxiety it’s causing you to Jesus through prayer.

Take some time today to find a quiet and peaceful space whether inside your residence or outside on a walk. When you are ready pray this prayer out loud.

“Jesus, help. I am thankful you are able to sympathize with my pain and that you are always with me. Will you please bring peace to the affliction caused by this detour? Will you stay close to me as I walk this path? I trust you to guide me. And I love you. Thank you for loving me. Amen.”