Patti Burris

Are you traveling on the road that will take you where you want to go? If not, Why? What is keeping you from making a U-turn and heading down the right street?

I have wasted to many years traveling down the wrong road. The main reason, for me, was because I simply didn’t know where I wanted to go. At the age of 43, I think I’ve finally figured it out! I have found the right road for me. It is a fairly deserted road. Every once in awhile, I bump into someone to share the journey with, but for now I’m traveling alone.

My road is all about living in community and sharing the Gospel with others. It is a road less traveled. I hesitated at the start. I could see all the pot holes, the ditches, the mud I might get stuck in when it rained, the isolation. It seemed so much easier to pick another road. A road that every other ministry leader was going down, the road of evangelism and modern day crusades that end up being all about the money. I could not travel that road. God was leading me elsewhere and I had to follow Him. I need to live in an intentional community like those of the early Church in the Book of Acts. Sharing our resources and serving the poorest of the poor. I am still searching for that community, but I will find it.

In my experience, I have found 6 reasons that we avoid the road that takes us where we want to go:

1. We don’t know where we want to go. It took me 43 years to figure this out! If you are struggling with this, take it to God. Ask Him where He wants you to go. What are you passionate about? What cause, people group, etc. has God given you a burden for? God usually gives us the talents and skills to match His purpose for us. What are your skills? What talent has He given you?

2. We are fearful. It is easy to look down the road, see the obstacles and become paralyzed with fear. I have been there. God never promised that our lives would always be obstacle free. Every road has it’s share of pot holes, ditches and mud. It will rain. God did promise that He would travel the road with us. He sees all. He knows all and He will guide us if we ask Him to.

3. We get distracted. This has been a big issue of mine. I start down a road and then I realize that this or that needs to be done. I start to question whether I really have time for this. If it’s a passion, if it gives me joy, if it fits into God’s will then we need to find the time. Get a planner and start scheduling time into your day to take steps down the road you have chosen. Even if it is baby steps and you don’t seem to get to far, get started. One day you will look back and be amazed at how far you really have gotten.

4. No support. It is hard to do something that people in your life don’t agree with. It is never easy to go against your loved ones. I understand this. Sometimes we have to follow our hearts, regardless of what others think. If God is leading, then we MUST follow. He is the only one that matters. Be respectful of the opinions of loved ones, but if you know you are in God’s will, then follow Him.

5. We can’t see the end of the road. I always like to know the end result. I like to know that what I am doing will be a success. Unfortunately, we won’t always know the end result. We won’t always know if what we are doing will succeed or fail. What matters is the journey. Knowing that we are in God’s will needs to be enough. He knows what the end result will be. If we walk with Him, more than likely we will succeed, but if we wander off the road, we will most likely fail. We have to trust God and simply obey.

6. We don’t want to travel alone. I completely understand this. It is hard to be the only one championing a cause or serving a people group. There are times when we may the only ones with the life experience or skill set that can do the job God wants us to do. We are never really alone. God is with us. He is all we really need.

Where is God leading you?

What are you afraid of?

What is distracting you?

Do you have the support of loved ones?

Can you see the end of the road?

Are you traveling alone?

Ask yourself the questions above and write down whatever is on your heart. Use these questions as a tool for communicating with God. Ask Him to show you His heart and He will.