A Prayer for When Life Takes an Unexpected Detour
By Alicia Searl
Bible Reading
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” - Psalm 90:12
At the end of every year, I compile all of my pictures from my phone and create a photo book to be able to look back on and relive special family moments. These little books are tucked under our coffee table so that I can pull them out at any time and thumb through them. A few nights ago, my youngest daughter crawled into my lap with a few of those books, and with her sweet little grin, she prompted me to look at them with her. How could I refuse?
We snuggled up close and giggled about the good ‘ole times. Then we got to the last book, 2021, and that was it. There were no more books after that. She and I both knew the reason why. But, instead of saying a word, she grabbed my phone and asked if we could create a book for 2022. I wanted so badly to scream, “No! Not 2022.” But there was no time. She was already flipping through the pictures, and I couldn’t look away. From milestone birthdays and our twentieth wedding anniversary to a kindergarten graduation, on the outside, it all looked like an amazing year, but to me, it was such a blur. There may have been sweet smiles in those photos, but pain filtered through my eyes. It was apparent that the absence of my beloved mom was glaringly obvious.
Maybe you have had a year like that? Perhaps you are enduring a year like that right now, where you are trudging down the path of the unknown, unsure of what to expect as it has taken you on a disastrous detour. Oh, how I wish I had the right words to console your heart, but my words would only fall short. However, God’s Word never fails and always provides us with answers when life is uncertain. The book of Psalms has always been a great comfort to me when I am blind-sighted by a detour and unable to take the next step.
If you are experiencing an unexpected detour in life, I invite you to take a moment to read through some of the poetic Psalms today and let them be a healing balm to your soul. Psalm 90:12 is one such verse that beautifully reminds us that we are bound by time, but when we seek God, we can have full confidence that He will provide our hearts with wisdom. God reminds us in Psalms of the brevity of life and that we must harness our time and spend it wisely.
Reminiscing over those photo albums with my daughter was bittersweet. While 2022 took our entire family on an unforeseen detour that was tainted by grief, it also brought to light how time is short, and we must cherish the time we have, especially with our loved ones. Friend, the truth is that life will be filled with tumultuous highs and lows, which is a certainty, but God promises to see us through and provide us wisdom when we come to Him in prayer. That is so comforting!
Let’s pray:
Father God, You alone are the author and creator of this life. You tell the sun when to rise and when to set. You command the waves to crash upon the shore. You softly whisper for the flowers to bloom and the skies to bear rain. And You, Faithful Father, call us home, telling us when our time on this earth is done. O God, You alone are holy, righteous, pure, and just, and our lives are in Your loving and capable hands.
Please help us trust You and remember that You hold the time, from the seconds to hours of each and every day to the beginning and end of all time. That means that you see us. You see when we veer off the path and enter into the unknown. You see when we are overcome by confusion, worry, or pain. You see it all, and while You may allow it to happen, You remind us that when we come to You, You will grant us wisdom and peace. We are so thankful for that.
So, today, we draw close and ask that You grant us the comfort, wisdom, and peace we need to keep placing one foot in front of the other. Please make our paths straight and lead us back to You, God (Proverbs 3:5-6). We want to honor You with our lives and use our time wisely. Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Andrew_Mayovskyy
Alicia Searl is a devotional author, blogger, and speaker that is passionate about pouring out her heart and pointing ladies of all ages back to Jesus. She has an education background and master’s in literacy. Her favorite people call her Mom, which is why much of her time is spent cheering them on at a softball game or dance class. She is married to her heartthrob (a tall, spiky-haired blond) who can whip up a mean latte. She sips that goodness while writing her heart on a page while her puppy licks her feet. Visit her website at aliciasearl.com and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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