LESSONS FROM LIFE’S TRAFFIC JAMS. Trusting God When You Hit the Red Line.

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On my way to a recent book signing, I found myself eagerly anticipating time with fellow Christian educators. There’s something special about the bond we share. Those of us called to serve children understand the joys, challenges, and deep sense of purpose that comes from knowing we’re shaping lives for eternity. However, on this particular morning God had a lesson waiting for me, a lesson about trust. Little did I know that a traffic jam would remind me how much I still need to trust God when life comes to a halt.

The Unexpected Red Line

Most of you know I live in the Dallas area, and I was driving toward Oklahoma City. Leaving on a Saturday usually means lighter traffic, so I felt relaxed. My only real goal was to get through Dallas. I live on the south side of the metroplex, so I had a good stretch to cover before reaching open road.

As I approached the northern outskirts of Dallas, I noticed my arrival time creeping upward, first by one minute and then two. “Hmm,” I thought, “maybe there’s a wreck up ahead.” According to my map, all I saw was blue. Suddenly, there it was—the dreaded red line—followed by that calm voice announcing, “You are still on the fastest route.”

Minute by minute that red line stretched farther, and I found myself inching along, bumper-to-bumper, wondering when it would end. I couldn’t help but think about how this mirrored real life. Everything can be going smoothly. Our plans can be made, direction appears clear, and movement toward what we believe God has called us to do seems to be proceeding nicely. Then, without warning, life comes to a screeching halt. When it does, we’re faced with a choice. How will we respond when everything slows down?

When Life Hits the Brakes

I’ve had several of those “red line” seasons over the course of my life. One that stands out vividly was after my second miscarriage. I was serving as an elementary principal and taking a professional course in Oklahoma City called Cognitive Coaching when it happened. I remember feeling like everything had come to a standstill. I had dreams, goals, and responsibilities. Suddenly, I found myself sitting in emotional traffic, unsure when or if I’d start moving again.

Maybe you’ve had your own red-line seasons—a health diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, a disappointing evaluation, or that deep ache when you can’t seem to reach a struggling student. You keep showing up and doing your best, but it feels like nothing is moving forward.

The Temptation to Change Lanes

As I sat in that Dallas traffic, I did what most of us do when we’re stuck. I started scanning the other lanes. “That one looks faster,” I thought. So, I changed lanes…and instantly regretted it. The car I had been behind moved ahead while I sat still.

Isn’t that how we often respond to God’s “red lines”?  When progress slows, we start looking for ways to get out of the delay. We often tell ourselves, “If I just move here, change that, or start something new,” as if a quick shift might ease the discomfort sooner. Most of the time, however, our “lane changes” are fueled not by discernment but by impatience. When I wrestle with this, I’m reminded of what Scripture says.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways.”  Psalm 37:7

It’s hard to be still when everything inside us wants to move. Trusting God means resisting the urge to make our own detours. We must choose to believe that if He’s allowed the slowdown, He has purpose in it.

Trust the Process

Eventually, that long red line on my GPS turned to yellow, and then finally to blue. Traffic opened up, and I was back to normal speed. Life works like that, too. The stops don’t last forever, even when they feel endless in the moment. I smiled as I drove, thinking how God often whispers the same reassurance as our personal GPS, “You’re still on the fastest route.”

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6

God’s plans for us are not abandoned in the traffic. He’s still guiding, still shaping, still getting us to where He wants us to be though it may not be as fast as we had planned. Sometimes, He slows us down so we’ll look up instead of ahead. When the waiting finally ends, we often see that God was moving all along, just not in the way we expected.

For the Educator in a Red-Line Season

Maybe your red-line season isn’t traffic. Perhaps it is tension in your team, discouragement in your calling, or waiting for doors to open that feel long overdue. Whatever it is, take time to consider these important reminders.

• Be patient. Don’t rush to fix what God is still forming. In other words, stay in your lane!

• Be discerning. Seek His voice before making a move.

• Be trusting. The red line will turn blue again because God’s timing is always perfect.

Sometimes the most faith-filled thing you can do is stay where you are and trust that the blue line is coming. The next time life slows to a crawl and you feel stuck in a red line, know that God hasn’t forgotten you. You are still on the fastest route! God knows the way. Stay the course. Trust the process. Rest knowing that God will be faithful to get you exactly where you’re meant to be.

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