Looking Back – Twists and Turns

Recently I have been reflecting upon all the twists and turns in my life that have brought me to where I am today. Twists and turns that I have intentionally created by my own decisions (good and bad) and the twists and turns that were thrust upon me by life itself (good and bad). I wonder where I would be today if I had chosen to go to a different college. What if I had not taken that particular job but rather the other? Should I have pursued this rather than that? What if I had not been diagnosed with cancer? What would I be doing right now and where would I be doing it? Man, as I think about all this my head begins to spin. There are countless possibilities of where we finally end up based upon all the decisions we make and the situations we encounter during our journey through life.

What I find to be amazing is that with all of the twists and turns in my life I have ended up right where I want to be. I couldn’t have planned it any better (except, of course, for the cancer). I have a beautiful and loving wife, a son I could not be prouder of, and an extended family who loves me and whom I love very much. So how did that happen? I mean, how did I end up where I want to be given the infinite possibilities of the twists and turns?

I would like to say that God has guided me from the beginning but I have to admit that during most of my life I sort of ignored God’s will and relied solely upon my own instincts which, as I look back, may not have been such a great idea. I drifted with no real sense of what I was doing other than attempting to find happiness and success. Oh, I was happy and successful, yet not “content”. Thinking about it now I believe what I lacked was a sense of purpose and, without purpose, I drifted through many twists and turns.

Jeremiah 17:5-11 -- Thus says the Lord: "Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord… Blessed are those who trust in the Lord…"

Once I began to build a relationship with God and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior I began to feel “settled”. The drifting stopped. I have a purpose, which is to work toward profiting God’s kingdom. I now consistently turn to God for advice and pray for His guidance and He has consistently provided it.

Proverbs 3:5-8 -- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.

Now here is the question that is tickling the back of my poor bruised brain – If I had not built my relationship with God or accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior would I still feel as though I ended up exactly where I want to be or would I still be drifting?

Romans 8:28 -- We know that all things work together for good* for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

I believe I would still be drifting.


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