When the signs aren’t there

I was on my way to a time of silence and solitude when I had to go through a roundabout.

Not a fan of them.

They’re messy, a free-for-all with cars entering and exiting at different points, trying to cross to their lanes without colliding with any of the others doing the same.

What’s up with roundabouts?

Intersections are neater: there are clearly-marked lanes directing you to turn left, go straight, or turn right. A red light tells you when to stop; a green light tells you when to go.

God spoke to me through this.

Sometimes, we like intersections because it’s easier to be told what to do. Take this lane. Wait behind this line. Go when the light is green.

Roundabouts require a higher level of alertness and engagement: you have to see what direction traffic is moving in, time your entrance right, navigate through without colliding with another vehicle, and make your exit when it’s safe.

Discernment is a crucial skill needed throughout our spiritual journeys. We need it to determine what is of God and what isn’t. Sometimes, God gives a sign, like Gideon’s fleece (Judges 6:36-40), but He doesn’t always do this.

What do we do when we don’t get any signs?

As with a roundabout, we remain alert, see what direction everyone else is moving in, yield to oncoming traffic, and go with the flow. The very nature of a roundabout requires good discernment. We also need to exit when the time is right, or else, we could end up going in circles.

I can be known as the guy who sees signs, but perhaps God is teaching me to navigate roundabouts instead. Maybe this is part of maturing as a follower of Jesus.

From today’s entry in Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest:

Are you going on with Jesus? The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on “outside the camp” (Heb. 13:13). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow— but only the voice saying, “Follow Me” (Matt. 4:19).