Wrong Turns and Worth

Right after Easter, I shared my latest SSMT verse and in the comments, an anonymous friend wrote, 
"Just wish I had some blueprints. Totally don't get why my life is the way it is. I feel I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere just don't know where." 

I stared at those words for a while before responding, completely unsure I had the right answer. After praying about it...I concluded these two possibilities:

* Either he/she did NOT make a wrong turn and Satan was having a full-on party casting doubt and insecurity on the situation or....

* He/she DID make a wrong turn, but praise the Lord, nothing is beyond the Lord's ability to redeem.

I don't know who Anonymous is and I don't know the situation, but I bet someone else out there feels the same way. And so have I, on more than one occasion.

* I remember wondering if I made a wrong turn when I pursued a writing major. Was I not marketable enough? Should I have chosen something else? Gone somewhere else to school? Somewhere that would have allowed me to leave debt free?

* Did I make a wrong turn when I bought this house? Could I have already been in Fort Wayne and done with commuting if I didn't have a house to sell?

* Did I make a wrong turn by self-publishing my book instead of waiting for a traditional publishing offer to come my way?

* Did I make a wrong turn by entering into a relationship with Isaac, back in the day?

My life would no doubt look completely different if I'd made a different turn at any of those junctures. But this I know:

* When I was hired for my producer job at WBCL, my writing experience was huge in making me qualified for the position. And the skills I'd learned while working in Financial Aid served me just as well - and I wouldn't have had that job if I'd not attended IWU.

* If I'd moved to Fort Wayne immediately after getting my job, I never would have dated Ryan. And I wouldn't have this wonderful husband today.

* I got my interview on Mid-Morning because I'd published a book. And because I was a guest on the show, I found out about a job opening.

* If I hadn't dated Isaac, I wouldn't be the person I am today. The brokenness led to wholeness.

Wrong turns aren't beyond God's ability to redeem if surrendered to Him. And what might seem a wrong turn might actually be the perfect turn...if you wait to see.

So, dear Anonymous friend, seek the Lord. He'll be faithful to guide you in affirming you didn't make a wrong turn after all...or back onto the right path if you did.

And in slightly related news...after yesterday's blog post, I've decided to make the next few weeks a little series called "Worth it Wednesdays." You all are hurting in some of the same ways I have been - and there's no reason we shouldn't walk together. So if you are struggling with self-worth, come visit here on Wednesdays. We'll work together to learn to see ourselves the way God sees us.