When driving at night, with only our small headlights, it’s hard to see why a road is winding. Why can’t the roadway be straight?

It is only during the day, when we see with the sunlight, that we begin to understand the winding roadway which we have traversed. The hills, streams, and massive boulders avoided.

As Yeshua taught, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

In Psalm 23:3 David writes:

יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי-צֶדֶק, לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ

“He leads me along circuitous paths of righteousness for His names sake.”

The Hebrew translated as paths, מַעְגָּל/ma’gal, does not convey a straight or easy way, as it implies a rut where a wheel turns; rather it is rooted in a word meaning circular.

The way the Lord brings us in life is not always the direct or straight way. What? Doesn’t it say that He leads us in paths righteousness? It does.

The way He leads us is often circuitous, indirect, not the short way. As we travel along the way, with the light and perspective available to us, it is difficult, if not impossible, for us to see what He is leading us to avoid.

It is only in His glorious light, when we see apart from the perspective of need or want, that the circuitous way of our lives come into focus.

Yet, even though He leads us indirectly to our destination, along the way He has made, He makes the way straight, righteous, correct, according to His plan, His purpose, and under His control.

He will not leave us to wander, or as orphans stumbling in the darkness, He blesses us with the light and direction of His Son, the Good Shepherd, by the in-dwelling of presence of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16).

Now, walk in that assurance.

Be well. Shalom.