The other day, I was in a rush to catch my train. A train arrived two minutes earlier than anticipated, on the same track as mine. I jumped on without checking the destination first. I thought I was saving time, but I was actually setting myself up for a delay.
I was engrossed in my usual train activities; reading, checking messages, and listening to a sermon, when I heard the announcement for the next station. The name sounded unfamiliar. I looked up and realised I was on the wrong train.
What was the result? I had to make two more stops before exiting to reroute and get back on track. What was supposed to be a time-saving decision ended up taking longer.
Isn’t that how life sometimes goes?
* We often rush through opportunities, commitments, and decisions without ensuring they align with our goals.
* Being preoccupied with tasks, responsibilities, and distractions can cause us to lose sight of our true path.
𝑳𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏:
1. Pause and Verify the Route: Just as I should have checked the train’s destination, we should evaluate whether our decisions are in line with God’s purpose. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “𝐴 𝑚𝑎𝑛’𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑠 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑦, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑠 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝𝑠.”
2. Stay alert and present: It’s easy to get caught up in life’s busyness and miss signs of being off track. Lifting your head on a regular basis, whether through prayer, reflection, or counselling, can help you stay on track.
1. Detours Are Not the End: Just because I was on the wrong train didn’t mean my journey was over. I had to reroute, but I eventually arrived at my destination. Similarly, God’s grace enables us to correct our errors. “𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑝𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝑟𝑑, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐻𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑦”(Psalm 37:23).
4. Rushing can lead to delays: Taking shortcuts to save time can be counterproductive. Pacing ourselves and putting our trust in God’s timing is wise.
* Are you taking the right train?
* Take a moment today to consider where you’re headed.
* Are your goals, commitments, and daily choices in line with God’s will for you?
* If you’ve gotten off track, it’s never too late to change your course.
𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆’𝒔 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏; 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉.
© 2025 Seun Oyekola
