Nancy Hughes: Are you going in circles?

“Then the Lord said to me, “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.”

Deuteronomy 2:2-3 (NIV)

Finding the mall in a city should not be hard for any female with shopping on her mind. And not just one female, but three, bent on finding fantastic bargains for practically nothing. So my shopping trip began with my two daughters one Saturday morning.

We didn’t get directions but were fairly confident that we could find the mall and scoop up one bargain after another. I am famous for getting lost everywhere I go (closets, bathrooms) but I felt certain that my daughters did not inherit that flaw. Wrong.

After two hours of driving in the city, we decided that being “fairly confident” that we could find the mall was actually “overly confident.” Our conversations went like this: “Is that a prison?” “Yes. Wouldn’t it be scary to live in a city with a prison close by?”

Forty-five minutes later: “Hey . . . isn’t that the prison again?” “It can’t be.” “Well, are there two prisons in this city?” “Not that I know of.” “Either there are two prisons or we are going in circles.” Silence. Then: “I vote for two prisons.”

I understand Deuteronomy 2:2-3 completely. In the beginning of chapter 2, Moses reminds the Israelites about their years spent in the desert and the march to Canaan. Then he talks about journeying into the wilderness and around Mt. Seir for several days until the Lord says that they had gone in circles long enough and needed to change direction and go north.

Moses also reminds them that, despite their complaining and disobedience, God had supplied their every need and had been faithful to His children every step on that journey.

I could have been one of those Israelites. God has guidance and direction for my life but so often I think I can do everything on my own. So I travel in the desert, going round and round, never accomplishing anything and complaining every step of the way.

Maybe my Mt. Seir is a disagreement with my husband over something he said or did. My arguing goes round and round when what I need to do is to “turn north.” In other words, take a deep breath and ask the Lord to direct my steps – and my tongue.

I moan and whine when I step on the scales and see my weight. But I go round and round, hopping from one diet to another instead of seeking my Father’s face and asking Him to give me strength and will power in choosing my meals.

Going in circles eventually leads to . . . nowhere! I encourage you to join me and decide today to stop wandering round and round, listen to the Lord and turn north.

Father, so many times I go in circles when I need to be listening to your voice and following a new direction. Thank you for being faithful and pulling me back to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect 

Have you ever had a situation that you tried to correct on your own without direction from the Lord?

Did you find yourself going in circles with no solution in sight? 

Apply 

Draw a circle in your journal. Write the situation that you are facing on the inside of the circle and around the outside, write the steps that you have taken so far.

Now pray about the situation and draw a “turn north” line and write down the solution the Lord puts on your heart.

Power 

Deuteronomy 2:2-3 (NIV) “Then the Lord said to me, “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”

Psalm 120:1 (NIV) “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” 

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog, Encouragment from the War Room.)