By Rhonda Stinson
It was about 3 PM and I’d just left my doctor’s office in Greensburg, IN. As I neared the on ramp, I noticed road construction, a ramp closed sign, and a detour sign. To be honest, I was going over the doctor’s appointment in my mind. I got on the highway at another entry point and headed home. As I was jamming to the music, I noticed a sign that said, Shelbyville next exit. My first thought was, “That’s weird. I always thought Shelbyville was past Greensburg, not before.” I ignored the thought and kept on going and going and going (This isn’t a lead-in to an Energizer battery commercial). Deep within, I knew I should’ve been home a long time ago. The next sign made my heart drop. Indianapolis next exit. Indy!!! I got on the wrong ramp at the Greensburg detour! I was now 90 miles from home. I called home bawling because I had just wasted all of that time going the wrong way. Mom reassuringly gave me directions to get out of the middle of Indy and head home.
Have you ever gone out of your way because you made a wrong turn?
My first “detour” ended up being a 24-year long trip. When I was in high school, I knew I needed to lose weight. But I really didn’t have any clear direction as to how. It started with decreasing calories and then adding exercise. I would end up so hungry that I would overeat. One day, I remembered a time in my childhood when I ate too much at Red Lobster and ended up sick and vomiting in the parking lot. It’s no coincidence Satan knew just when to bring this long-buried memory to mind. What an easy way to lose weight. Every time I ate, I would easily vomit. I justified it; nothing in the Bible says you shouldn’t rid your body of excess calories, right? So it was okay to do it… right? Despite the guilty feeling that I had, I continued on this road. My calorie intake decreased while the exercise and vomiting increased.
When I saw the exit sign to Shelbyville I knew I should stop and get my bearings straight. When at the beginning of my eating disorder, I knew I should stop and get my bearings straight. In both cases. I didn’t. I kept going 100mph without looking back. There were bumps along the way like hospital admittance, blood sugar problems, severe muscle and hair loss, brain issues (which is one reason why I got on the highway going the wrong way), depression, and so on.
One day, a dear friend called and spoke to me. She told me about a conference she had attended and spoke to my eating disorder with Bible scriptures. She saw me on the wrong road and wasn’t going to let me go until giving me directions to get home. I could follow them or I could disregard them. The choice was mine. The Holy Spirit spoke loudly to my heart that day. I was tired and weathered from driving down this road for far too long. The Indianapolis exit was not my destination and neither was this dead-end eating disorder.
Though the bawling continued as I turned toward home, my heart was uplifted. I knew, without a doubt, I was going in the right direction because my mom has never been wrong when it comes to directions. I knew my dear friend was giving me the right directions because she made the same wrong detour and returned safely home. Lastly, but most importantly, I know God has given us complete and exact directions for living in this world as strangers and sojourners. He Who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent is a faithful and true guide on your journey. Will you trust Him today or will you continue on without looking back?
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25 NIV). Heed the advice of godly wisdom from a friend.
“The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness 40 years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD” (Joshua 5:6 NIV).
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).
“God is not a human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind” (Numbers 23:19a NIV).
Looking for a way to connect with God daily? Check out our daily devotional books. (They make great gifts too!): Living in Truth Day by Day *** Living in Truth Mind, Body, Spirit *** Living in Truth: A Christmas Devotional
