Stranded in San Francisco

LaVerne and I started our journey home on Sunday. We flew from Oregon to California on Sunday night and got stuck in San Francisco for the past few days.  Hurricane Sandy caused the airports on the East Coast to close down. We are experiencing a detour. We hope to fly out tonight.

We had not planned for this. But this is nothing compared to the millions of Americans from New Jersey and New York City affected by the storm, some who have lost their homes and some who even lost their loved ones. Our prayers are focused on them today.

Proverbs 16:9 tells us; “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” We need to continue to follow our hearts and make our plans as we believe the Lord is leading us, but we must be ready at a moment’s notice to trust the grace of God to direct our steps when detours come. With God, every detour is an opportunity to experience the Lord’s grace and fresh direction and revelation.

Paul the apostle was convinced he was to go to Mysia, but was stopped by God and led into Macedonia instead. It seemed like a detour. But it was in Macedonia that they experienced a move of God in the city of Philippi (Acts 16). It was totally unexpected, but happened because of a detour.

Let’s continue to look for God opportunities when we experience life’s detours. God may be planning an unexpected move by His Spirit. Or the Lord may be just positioning us to experience extra grace from Him for the detour. Either way, let’s stay alert to Him.