Today we are excited and honored to have Nannette Elkins from Hope in the Healing sharing a guest post and hosting Wedded Wednesday while my husband and I (Beth) travel to Dallas for a Marriage Ministry Conference. Please make her feel welcome, since she’s been a faithful presence in our linkups and is so very insightful, funny and sweet! My husband and I even gotten to meet Nannette and her husband, Doug, when they were coming through our neck of the woods! See pic below! 😉

A few years ago my family lived in Northwest Missouri, pastoring a church in a small town famously known as The Home of Sliced Bread. We were about eight hours from home, which was just south of Indianapolis. On the way to Indy, there was not much to see; it’s long, it’s boring and it’s barren. It’s easy to get distracted, which is exactly what happened to me on one particular drive.

The Sweetheart does most of our driving. He likes to drive, he thinks he is good at it and probably doesn’t trust me. But on this trip he became sleepy and I offered to give him a break. No problem, he was out in no time. About an hour and a half later he sat up from his reclined position and could see mile markers passing that didn’t seem to make sense. (Who in the world notices mile markers?!)

“Where are we?” I wouldn’t have a clue; all of the exits, hayfields and billboards looked alike to me. He knew something was wrong and then we both saw it. I-55 North.

Where does I-55 North go? …

Chicago.

Where were we supposed to be going?…

Indianapolis.

Oops. 😉

The Sweetheart was not amused. The drive was long enough without an extended detour. An hour and a half north also meant an hour and a half back south before we would even be to the point where we left off.

Unexpected detours. Sometimes they are for our good, sometimes they are for the good of others. (Okay, in our case it was just driver’s error but stay with me.)

Jesus was asked by one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus, to come to his house and heal his dying 12 year old daughter. On the way to help this man, Jesus was interrupted by a crowd that gathered around Him and another woman with a need. She did not wait for an invitation, she did not care what others thought, she pushed through the crowd and reached out for the One she had heard could heal her body and that touch was all she needed for complete restoration. Yet Jesus paused to learn her identity and hold a conversation. Surely Jairus was pacing and wringing his hands but the Bible doesn’t record any reaction from him.

These divine interruptions, detours or diversions were perfect for Jesus. They didn’t change His plans, they provided for a greater miracle!

By the time they reached the house of Jairus, his daughter had died. To heal the young girl would have been a great miracle but to raise her from the dead?

[Tweet “Many of the miracles Jesus did were on the way to carry out another miracle!”]

Consider Mary and Martha sitting beside the bedside of their brother, Lazarus. They sent for Jesus and He could have left Bethany when He heard the news and arrived to find a sick Lazarus instead of one in the grave.

John 11:4-6, “But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’”

Healing Lazarus from his sickness would have been great, but to bring him back from the dead after FOUR DAYS was an even greater miracle that touched many more lives than had He chosen to hurry. Jesus said it was for the glory of God!

Scholars tell us that Jesus healed the blind man and had dinner with Zacchaeus on His way to Mary and Martha’s house. Sight restored for one and an entire family turned around because of His divine delays.

[Tweet “Your need is not an interruption to Jesus! “]

If you think He has been detoured or delayed, think again.

God is never late! He is always right on time and those interruptions, detours and bumps in the road are only for His glory, to show a greater miracle and for more people to hear of His healing power.

[Tweet “Christian bloggers join us for another Wedded Wednesday Linkup!”]

When have you felt like God was late in response to your needs, but later it proved to be the best possible answer?

What is your biggest hindrance to trusting God’s timing or detours in your life? 

Photo credit – Nannette Elkins

Joining with my friends at Giving Up on Perfect, Wifey Wednesday, A Little R & R Wednesdays, Mondays @ Soul Survival, Coffee and Conversation, and Wholehearted Wednesday.

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