Is the Lane Blocked or Open?

One Sunday morning a few months back we were heading up to Prescott Valley to attend church.  Driving up I-17 from Phoenix we found a lane had been blocked off for a few miles.  Tom commented, (as we slowed down and made our way on the open lanes) that he wondered why on Sundays, when it appeared no one was working, did they leave the lane blocked.  It wasn't but a mile or so further up the road that we did see a truck in that lane and work being done on the road.

It's kind of like when God allows something to come our way that blocks our lane and causes us to detour into the other lane, or to even take another road to get where we think we need to be.   There are many things that can block our lane.  It could be a sickness, the death of someone close, job loss, location transfer, foreclosure, divorce, marriage, a move.  Any of these things can get in our lane, our life, and cause us to slow down and sometimes detour.  Each block in our lane can cause pain of some sort.

Sometimes God wants us to slow down and wait upon Him before proceeding.  Sometimes He wants to give us a 'way out' before succumbing to a temptation.  Sometimes we need to sit back and let God comfort us in our times of need.  Sometimes we need to just sit and wait.

As many of you know, I'm looking for a job.  I haven't looked real hard thus far because of different things - vacation, busyness, etc.  But, soon my monies will stop and it will be very difficult if I don't find a job soon.  So, I am looking again.  I saw a couple possibilities yesterday, but I know the stress involved in those jobs and hesitate to even apply.  I don't want my life to be stress-filled.

I have added my own blocks in my lane.  I said I wanted to stay within a ten mile radius of the house.  I don't think that is unreasonable.  I need a certain amount in order for us to survive, even though the need is substantially less than what I made before.   Lane blocks.  I mentioned this morning at breakfast that I had found a couple positions that I could apply for, but.....   I got the impression I should apply for them anyway.  Lane blocks.  I think both are about 20 miles away.  I dread the drive, but then, I also enjoy the drive at times as that gives me time to think and pray and just be alone.

As I sit here and think about the lane blocks I have added on myself, I find that I need to think through the challenges I have placed upon my job seeking.  I need to make sure that the lane I am on is the one that allows me to continue to grow and keep moving.  Perhaps I need to remove some of those restrictions.  I suspect I will never be able to "retire" again - at least not for many years - so I want my job to be rewarding.  I don't want it to just be 'a job'.  I give 100% at work and I want to be able to bring some of me home at the end of the day.

Psalm 27:14 - "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Psalm 28:7 - "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."

Take a few minutes to review the blocks that have been thrown in your life.  Are there some that you could change - that you could react differently to?  Are you keeping the lane blocked because you just don't want to take the time to move to another lane?  Are you allowing these things to slow you down, or perhaps stop you completely? 

Life is too precious and to short to allow things to block or slow down your path.  Yes, some things happen that are extremely painful.  The key is in Whom you place your trust.  In Whom you rest in.  When you have Jesus in your heart, you know that He is walking you through the journey of lane blocks.  It doesn't mean it will not happen, it just means you know you are never walking alone.

What are you doing about removing the blocks in your lane?  I think I am going to review what blocks I have added and see what I can do about eliminating them.  I pray you find the ones that are the most difficult, and work through them.

Blessings!