Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

I’m standing in the exact place the Lord has called me to stand, doing the work He’s asked me to do—but I didn’t start here. I love telling people what God has done in me and how He’s changed my life. And if you live here long enough, you know Wal-Mart is where testimonies meet the toothpaste aisle. You’re almost guaranteed to run into someone you know.

Most folks smile and cheer me on. Some aren’t sure what to say. But the other day, when I shared my desire to become a pastor, one response stunned me: “We have too many churches.” That sentence echoed in my mind. For a moment it tried to plant doubt where God had planted calling. But God has a way of turning even a stray comment into fresh conviction. The harvest is still plentiful. The hurting are still many. And obedience isn’t a numbers game—it’s a faithfulness thing.

Having a heart willing to do right—and a heart willing to change—has brought deep peace to my life. My faith has only grown, not because I’ve been flawless (I’ve fallen short of God’s glory more times than I can count), but because God refused to write me off. He welcomed me with open arms, set my feet on solid rock, and put a new song in my mouth. For years I felt like I’d wasted time, until I realized God had been quietly “recalculating” my route the whole way through.

I even named my GPS—Lola. After every wrong turn and missed exit, Lola calmly offers a new way forward. I can’t tell you how many times I ignored her because I thought I knew a better shortcut. I’ve done the same with God. He gives clear direction; I insist I’ve got it from here. Before long, I’m nowhere close to where I intended to be. But the second I turn back, He meets me there. Not with scolding, but with guidance. Not with condemnation, but with a corrected route.

No experience—good or bad—is wasted in God’s hands. He is the only One who can take the cul-de-sacs and dead ends of our choices and weave them into roads that still lead to purpose. “The LORD disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (Proverbs 3:12) Even what felt like punishment or pointless delay often turns out to be protection and preparation. He sees the end from the beginning. Our destiny—and our God—are bigger than our mistakes.

What we’ve done is not who we are. Who we trust is who we are. We’re children of the Most High. In Christ, nothing can separate us from the love of God. He doesn’t give up. He doesn’t turn His back when we cry out. When we think God is saying “don’t,” He’s really saying, “Don’t hurt yourself.” He already knows the pain our detours will cause. And when we do stumble, the answer isn’t to run from Him—it’s to run to Him. “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

So when someone says, “We have too many churches,” I hear a different question beneath it: “Do we really need more people obeying God?” My answer is yes—always yes. We need more light in dark places, more shepherds for wandering hearts, more tables where prodigals find their seat again. We don’t have too many churches; we have too many people still waiting to discover the hope those churches are called to carry.

For me, it wasn’t a polite GPS prompt—“At your next available intersection, please make a U-turn.” It was the voice of the Lord in my spirit: “Turn around now and don’t look back; I, the Lord your God, have made the way straight. Trust Me—I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.” That’s the invitation on the table for every one of us. Wherever you are, however lost you feel, grace is nearer than the next exit. Surrender the wheel, listen for His voice, and let Him recalculate the route.

I trust the Lord with all my future travels—because He’s been faithful at every mile marker of my past. And if you’re standing at a crossroads today, take courage: one turn toward Him changes everything.