Detours Are Still Part Of The Journey

Have you ever looked back on a decision and thought, “If I had just gone a different way…” or “That one choice changed everything”? It’s so easy to sit in those moments and wonder how life might look if we had chosen differently – if that door had opened, if that opportunity hadn’t slipped by, if the relationship hadn’t ended. And before we know it, we’re replaying scenes from the past like an old movie we can’t stop watching.

But here’s something I’ve learned, and I want you to hear it like it’s coming from a friend sitting across the table with coffee in hand: your detours are still part of God’s plan.

I know that might be hard to believe. When our carefully laid plans fall apart, it’s natural to think we’ve failed or missed God’s best. But what if the closed doors, the delays, and even the disappointments weren’t setbacks at all? What if they were redirections: holy detours designed to lead you exactly where God wants you to be?

When the Road Shifts

We love the idea of a straight path, one decision leading seamlessly to the next, success following obedience like clockwork. But life rarely unfolds in a straight line. God’s Word reminds us in Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

That means even when the journey feels like it’s zigzagging or backtracking, God’s hand is still guiding your steps. The job you didn’t get, the door that closed, the dream that didn’t materialize, none of it surprised Him. And none of it disqualified you from your calling.

I think about Joseph in the Bible. His story is one detour after another: sold by his brothers, wrongly imprisoned, forgotten by those he helped. Yet every twist and turn was leading him closer to the ordained position God had prepared for him. What felt like detours were actually divine positioning.

God’s Plans Haven’t Changed

It’s easy to believe that a wrong turn or a missed opportunity has somehow rewritten the story of your life. But God’s plans for you are not so fragile. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Notice it doesn’t say “plans only if you never mess up” or “plans unless you take a wrong turn.” It simply says God has plans, and those plans include hope and a future. Even when you’ve wandered, He knows how to reroute you. Even when you feel lost, He knows how to lead you home.

Lessons from the Long Way Around

Life has taught me something beautiful about detours: they often teach us things the direct route never could. Maybe the delay strengthened your faith. Maybe the disappointment taught you resilience. Maybe the door that slammed shut redirected you toward something far greater than what you were asking for.

Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s thoughts are higher than ours and His ways are higher than ours. We don’t always see the purpose in the detour while we’re in it, but with time and trust, we often look back and realize it was grace all along.

Keep Walking Forward

If regret has been whispering lies, telling you it’s too late, that you’ve missed your chance, or that God has moved on without you, silence those lies with truth. The God who began a good work in you hasn’t stopped working. (Philippians 1:6)

So, take a deep breath. Release the weight of what could have been. And remember: God is not limited by your past decisions. He is far more interested in your present willingness to keep walking with Him.

The detours, the delays, the disappointments, they’re all part of the journey. And if you let Him, God will use every single one of them to shape you, strengthen you, and lead you into the purpose, calling, and assignment He’s had for you all along.

Your story isn’t behind you. It’s unfolding right now, one faithful step at a time. And the best part? God’s still writing it, and He’s not finished yet.