Getting Back on Track
Have you ever been lost? Maybe you got stuck in traffic, decided to ignore the GPS and find a shortcut, or thought you knew your way—only to realize your memory wasn’t as great as you thought. As a result, you lost your way.
I remember a time when Steve and I were driving back after taking our daughter to college in another state. We were deep in conversation and not paying attention. We were horrified to realize we had missed a critical turn and had gone hours out of the way. We ended up getting a hotel and then had to take an entirely different route home. It was a costly mistake.
Getting lost while driving is one thing, but sometimes we lose our way in our spiritual journey. We find ourselves not enjoying God’s presence quite as much and not feeling His nearness.
This past week, I was reading Psalm 106. If you haven’t read it lately, give it a read. It tracks the journey of the Israelites, and as you read, you’ll see that they lost their way multiple times. As I meditated on their story, I noticed three critical wrong turns they made in their journey to follow God.
3 Wrong Turns to Avoid
- They Did Not Remember (Psalm 106:7).
This may not seem like a big deal, but it greatly impacted their journey with God. They forgot how good, faithful, and loving He had been. If we want to get back on track with Jesus, we must practice the worship of remembrance. We need to take time to recall how God has been faithful in the past. As we praise Him for what He has done, we will find the faith to trust Him for tomorrow.
If you’re struggling to trust God with the future, take a moment to reflect on how He has provided before. Write down specific ways He has met your needs. When we remember, the Holy Spirit strengthens us to trust Him more.
- They Did Not Wait (Psalm 106:13).
So often, we lose our way because we don’t wait for God’s plan to unfold. Instead of trusting His timing, we dive in and take matters into our own hands. As a result, we lose our way.
Waiting on God is essential to our spiritual journey. In the waiting, there is a divine exchange—our weakness for His strength. When we push forward with our own plans, we forfeit His strength and become weary.
Friend, if you are feeling spiritually exhausted, it may be a sign that you need more time simply lingering in God’s presence, waiting on His direction for your life.
- They Grumbled and Did Not Obey (Psalm 106:25).
In our current culture, we often give ourselves a free pass on this one. We feel entitled to grumble and complain about almost everything. Yet the Apostle Paul wrote that we are to “do everything without grumbling and complaining” (Philippians 2:14).
When we complain, our attitude crashes. We feel entitled instead of grateful, making us less likely to obey God with joy. This doesn’t mean we aren’t authentic—we are called to grieve (Matthew 5:4). But grumbling is different; it’s a habit of complaining about God’s provision—whether it’s the weather (ouch), our food, gas prices, or how hard life is.
Every time we complain, our words steal a bit of joy from our souls. The antidote to grumbling is gratitude. The more we practice gratitude, the more we will obey with joy.
Friend, if you’ve lost your way, be intentional about getting back on track. Spend time in God’s presence—remembering His goodness, waiting for His answers, and cultivating gratitude. He is a good and gracious God!
Prayer Request
Hey, I would love your prayers! I’m in the thick of writing Friendwise, which will release in 2026. It’s going to be a great follow-up to Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World.
On the Podcast This Week
This week on The Connected Mom Podcast, we are talking with Christine Trimpe about her new book, Sugarfreed. If you’ve struggled with weight, this is a great conversation!
