I've thought about how God is like our GPS ever since they Garmin introduced it in 1998.
You're getting ready to take a long road trip to a place you’ve never been before and what do you do? You turn on your Google or Apple Maps GPS to guide you. You didn't need to know every turn in advance—you just needed to follow the next instruction.
That’s exactly how life works when we follow God.
Trusting the Guide, Even When We Don’t See the Map
Most of us like to know what’s coming. We want control. But when we walk with God, we don’t always get the full map. We get the next step.
Just like a GPS doesn’t show every detail at once, God often guides us step by step—teaching us to rely on Him, not our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
That’s a spiritual version of “Turn right in 300 feet.”
Rerouting Isn’t the End
Sometimes we make wrong turns. We ignore God’s direction. We try our own way. But here’s the beautiful part: just like a GPS says “Recalculating” and gets us back on track, God offers grace. He doesn’t abandon us because of detours. He invites us back onto the path.
David knew this well. He wrote in Psalm 23:3:
“He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.”
Not for our perfection—but for His glory.
The Final Destination is Sure
The best part of using a GPS is arriving where you’re meant to go. When we follow God’s guidance, we’re not just wandering aimlessly through life. We’re headed toward a promised destination.
Jesus said to the thief on the cross:
“Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
That’s our destination too, if we follow Him. We may not know every stop, every trial, or every victory along the way—but we know how the story ends. With Him. In paradise.
So How Do We Let God Be Our GPS?
-
Stay connected. Just like a GPS needs a signal, we need prayer, Scripture, and worship to stay connected to God.
-
Listen closely. His direction isn’t always loud. It may be a whisper or a nudge from the Holy Spirit.
-
Obey immediately. Don’t wait to act when you know He’s spoken. Delayed obedience often leads to unnecessary detours.
-
Trust the process. Even when it doesn’t make sense, God sees what you can’t. He knows what lies ahead.
Final Thought
If you’ve been feeling lost or unsure of your next step, let this truth settle deep in your heart: God is your GPS. You can trust Him to get you where you’re supposed to be—not always the easiest route, but always the right one.
And when your journey on earth ends, you’ll hear the most beautiful confirmation that you’ve arrived:
“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:21)
That’s the destination worth following Him for.