Destination or Journey?

By Ava Pennington—

I admit it: I’m not a cruise person. Most people I know enjoy taking cruises, especially those who share my stage of life. Without exception, they return with raves about the ship, the food, and the entertainment. Interestingly, the ports of call are often an afterthought.

I prefer to get where I’m going quickly, enjoy the stay, then return home. You could say I am more interested in the destination than the journey. However, when it comes to relational and spiritual matters, I’ve noticed God is as concerned with my journey as He is with my destination.

When I’m congratulating myself on having a productive day, crossing every item off my to-do list, the Holy Spirit whispers to me, But what about the friend going through a divorce who left you a message asking for prayer?

When I’m rejoicing in the thousands of people touched by my newest book, the Holy Spirit asks, But when was the last time you shared your joys with your mother over a leisurely lunch?

When I’m congratulating myself on teaching a successful Bible lesson, the Holy Spirit convicts me: But how are you doing in applying its lessons to your own life before you teach it to others?

When I’m righteously indignant at the callousness of our culture in aborting pre-born babies, the Holy Spirit whispers to me, But what have you done lately to help a single mom cope with the stress of raising her children alone?

When I remind my leadership team of the importance of arriving at class on time, the Holy Spirit asks, Was arriving on time this morning important enough to cut off the driver behind you on the highway?

When I write a blog post about the need for men to be spiritual leaders in their families, the Holy Spirit gently whispers, How did you respond to your own husband when his last decision was not what you would have chosen?

The Holy Spirit reminds me that the journeys to my destinations are not meant to be as direct as I would like them to be.  The twists and turns and detours frequently mean that I have to learn and relearn the same lessons before I finally arrive. But it’s in the journey that I am drawn near to the One who is working to conform me to the image of His Son. And that makes each journey as important as the destination.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 ESV).

 

 

 

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Ava Pennington is a writer, Bible teacher, and speaker. Her newest book, Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, is endorsed by Precepts founder Kay Arthur. Additionally, Ava is co-author of Faith Basics for Kids. The first two books in the series are Do You Love Me More? and Will I See You Today? She has also written numerous articles for magazines such as Today’s Christian Woman, Power for Living, and Called.

In addition to her writing, Ava also teaches a weekly, Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class of 175+ women. She is a passionate speaker and teacher, and delights in challenging audiences with the truth of God’s word in relevant, enjoyable presentations. Ava and Russ have been married for 35 years and live in southeast Florida.

For more information, visit her at www.AvaWrites.com