By Amber Ginter
Have you ever been so caught up in life’s bumps and roadblocks that you forget to trust God? Have you ever felt like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness?
We can lose sight of God’s goodness as we navigate life’s detours. We can question choices, feel isolated, and wonder if a mistake was made.
I’ll never forget the day I left my teaching job to follow God’s call to write full-time. It felt like freedom, but soon doubt crept in.
Bills piled up, rejections from publishers threatened to steal my endurance, and the wilderness of uncertainty made me wonder if I’d misheard.
Should I go back? I contemplated.
When life is swell, following the path God has set before us seems easy. But when we experience life’s unpredictable detours, we may start to question His provision.
Will He really lead us into a land of milk and honey?
3 Steps to Navigate Life’s Detours
If you’ve ever struggled with these questions, equip yourself with these biblical truths to prepare for the next bump in the road.
Step #1 – Remember Who God Is
“The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name.” – Exodus 15:2–3 HCSB
After being rescued from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites found themselves hungry and afraid in the wilderness. They cried out to Moses and questioned their circumstances (Ex 16:3).
The Israelites lost sight of who God was and how He was still with them. The Lord had not changed, even if their circumstances had.
God is unchanging (Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17).
No matter where we are, what we do, or the circumstances we encounter, His truth, character, and faithfulness are unalterable.
God is always present and working for our good (Rom 8:28). Knowing who God is doesn’t change our difficulties, but reminds us of who He is amidst them.
Step #2 – Remember Who You Are
“Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.” – Colossians 2:6–7 HCSB
When life gets tough, we can forget who we are in Christ. But God doesn’t call us to a new place to leave us alone in the wilderness.
In Exodus 16, God miraculously provided manna and quail for the Israelites. Despite their grumbling and complaints, He didn’t abandon them and sustained their every need.
Even when we doubt, God is faithful to meet our needs.
We are reminded to pray for our “daily bread” (Mt 6:11). God provides for us each day just as He did for the Israelites.
We can rely on God for everything—our daily needs, strength, and purpose.
When we trust God for what we need each day, we remember who we are—His beloved children called to live out His purpose (Jn 1:12–13).
Our identity in Christ doesn’t change our circumstances (Eph 1:5), but it shifts our perspective to see things more clearly so we can better navigate life’s detours.
Step #3- Remember What God’s Done
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” – Lamentations 3:22-23 HCSB
The Israelites witnessed God’s miraculous deliverance, but quickly forgot it.
After crossing the Red Sea, they sang a song of praise to God for rescuing them from slavery. Three days later, they grumbled and questioned God’s provision when they encountered bitter water (Ex 15:24).
When life’s detours make us feel lost, we can look back at what God has already done. We can recall the prayers God answered, the doors He has opened, and the ways the Lord showed His trustworthiness.
God’s faithfulness resides in the past, exists in the present, and will continue into the future.
Reflecting on the Lord’s goodness helps us trust Him in the wilderness.
Navigating life’s highs and lows can be challenging. But with Jesus as our guide, we are empowered to handle our wilderness moments with grace, truth, and love.
Grounded in God’s Goodness
“Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are forcing to work as slaves, and I have remembered My covenant.” – Exodus 6:5 HCSB
We can lose sight of God’s goodness when life’s detours feel overwhelming.
Our circumstances may change, but God does not. He is always with us.
He has given us an unshakeable identity—even during times of uncertainty and chaos.
God walks with us in the wilderness. He will never lead you somewhere to forsake you.
He sees our struggles, hears our cries, and remains faithful to meet our needs.
Trust Him in every season of life—whether you’re navigating the bumps in the road or cruising down the highway of life.
Let’s not lose sight of His goodness today. Stay rooted in Christ and His love for you, my dear friends.
May the Lord’s faithfulness guide you as you navigate life’s detours.
Amber Ginter
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up, Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. Visit her website for free faith and mental health resources.
