Life`s Diversions
by Malcolm Wood
The motorway signs were quite clear. The junction I needed to leave at was closed and I was to follow the diversion signs. What was I to do? Continue and hope the signs were wrong? Find my own alternative route, or follow the diversion signs? I opted for the latter and began to wonder where this would take me, how far it would take me out of my way and how much longer it would make the journey?
The signs marking the alternative route were very sparse and at times I wondered whether I was indeed still on the right road. After several miles without any indication as to where I was, the sight of the next diversion sign brought such relief. I was still on the right road! Eventually after many miles I found myself back on my original route. This I thought had been a journey of utter trust and dependence on the signs displayed by the highway authority.
In life we sometimes come to a point when we are not able to continue along the pathway we are on. What do we do? Struggle on and hope it will all work out alright in the end, try and find our own alternative route, or look out for the diversionary signs which the Lord has put out for us to follow? If we have committed our way to Him and we remain living in line with His will and purposes, then we must believe that even the diversionary routes are part of His plan for us.
There will be those times when we will not be able to pursue a certain plan or achieve a certain objective, and find ourselves heading in a different direction, not knowing where we are, or where we are going. It is in those times that we just have to trust Him, believe He knows best and keep our eyes (and our ears) open for the encouraging signs that would indicate that all is well and we are still on the road He intends us to be on.
`Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, `This is the way; walk in it` (Isaiah 30:21).
Prayer: Dear Lord, when the way ahead for me seems blocked, help me to recognise Your diversionary signs and to listen for Your voice guiding me along the path You want me to travel along. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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