Casandra Martin

The bright white of the tail lights caught me off guard. We were driving through an intersection in the city and noticed a taxi that had made a wrong turn onto a one-way street. It was stuck. Traffic was coming at it from the opposite direction. Lights glared. Horns honked. We watched, unsure how to help. The taxi was in a dangerous position. The driver’s only choice was to put the car in reverse and make a u-turn in the middle of the road.

It was strange to see a taxi going the wrong way down a one-way street. There were signs clearly pointing drivers in the right direction. The flow of the cars was a sure clue that this traffic moved in a specific path. But the driver missed it. Whether because he was new, or unfamiliar with the roads, or distracted, or lost, he made a wrong turn and ended up someplace that put him in jeopardy.

I know how he feels. Sometimes I need to make a u-turn myself. There are days where I end up going the wrong way. I make a wrong turn, lose my way, and end up somewhere I don’t need to be. I feel stuck, blinded by the glare of missed opportunities and misplaced priorities. I panic when I see headlights where I expected taillights. I am embarrassed that others can see me mired in the middle of a mess.

The good news is that God is a God of U-Turns. He specializes in turning us around, pointing us in the right direction, and showing us the way. Heaven rejoices when God helps sinners make a u-turn out of a wrong turn. He is always willing to take us by the hand and do whatever is necessary to get us headed toward home. He takes what is stuck and sanctifies it. He covers our panic with His peace. He transforms our shame into celebration.

My Jesus Resolution today is to remember that it is okay to make a u-turn. God loves u-turns. U-turns are the action of a heart that realizes that moving toward God is always a move in the right direction. It doesn’t matter how I ended up on the wrong road. What matters is that I am willing to change direction. U-turns highlight the truth that God is in the transformation business. He loves to take what is broken and bruised and give it new life and new purpose. When we put ourselves in His hands, He turns us around and points us to the truth that Jesus is the Way.