When the Road Ahead Looks Different

As we move into November, I find myself thinking about roads.

Not necessarily physical roads, but the roads of life. changes that sometimes leave us wondering what comes next. Our congregation at Lord of Life is traveling one of those roads right now. We are in a time of transition, praying for God’s guidance as we seek a new direction and, in God’s time, a new pastor to lead us. There is excitement about what lies ahead, but there is also uncertainty. And I suspect many of us wonder:

Where are we going? What will our church look like in the years ahead? Those are honest questions. But perhaps faith reminds us that we don’t need to know every turn in the road before we take the next step.

This fall I have been reminded of how unpredictable that road can be. A former confirmation student of mine, here at LOL only 25 years old, died recently.

And very recently, within our church family, a friend experienced another kind of painful transition—the loss of a mother. For these families, the road ahead will now be traveled without someone who has been part of their lives for so long.

As I get older, I am constantly reminded that none of us knows what tomorrow will bring. We make plans. We celebrate milestones. We look forward to weddings, grandchildren, birthdays, and new beginnings. We plan for retirement and imagine what the next chapter will look like.

And then life changes. Sometimes the change is joyful. Sometimes it is painful. Sometimes it is simply uncertain. That is where faith becomes more than words. Our Christian faith does not promise that the road will always be smooth. It does not promise that we will understand every loss or have an answer for every question. What it does promise is that God walks with us.

Psalm 23 says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me.” Notice that the psalm doesn’t say if we walk through the valley. It says when. There will be valleys. There will also be mountaintops. And there will be long stretches of ordinary road in between.

Perhaps that is where Lord of Life finds itself today. We are not at the end of our story. We are somewhere between what has been and what will be. We remember with gratitude the ministry of Pastor Dale and Colleen and all that they have meant to this congregation. We may grieve what has changed, and we wonder about what comes next. But I believe this is not a time for fear. It is a time for prayer, patience, and trust. God was present in the life of that young man who once sat in my confirmation class and with his grieving family today. God is present with the family mourning the loss of a mother. And God is present with Lord of Life as we discern our next chapter.

Perhaps our task is not to figure everything out ourselves. Perhaps our task is to listen, to pray, to remain faithful to God’s ministry in our congregation, to care for one another, and to trust that God is already at work in places we cannot yet see.

As I grow older, I have learned that the road ahead rarely looks exactly as we imagined it would. Some roads become shorter. Some take unexpected turns. Some people who began the journey with us are sadly no longer walking beside us. But God’s promise remains.

We may not know who our next pastor will be. We may not know exactly what the future of Lord of Life will look like. We may not know what tomorrow will bring for our families or ourselves.

But we do know this: We do not walk the road alone. As we enter November and look toward the future, may we remember the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Do not fear, for I am with you.” Perhaps that is enough for the next step. And then the next. And the next.

For the road ahead may look different—but God is already there.

Lord’s Loving Peace, Craig 

Prayer for the Road Ahead

Gracious and loving God,

As we travel the changing roads of life, remind us that we never walk alone. When the way ahead is uncertain, give us patience. When our hearts are heavy with grief, surround us with Your comfort. When we struggle to understand why life sometimes takes such unexpected turns, strengthen our faith in Your abiding presence.

We pray especially for the family and friends of the young man whose life ended far too soon. Comfort all who mourn him, and let the memories of his life bring both tenderness and hope. We also lift up the family grieving the loss of a beloved mother. Surround them with Your love in the days ahead, when familiar routines and cherished memories may bring both sorrow and comfort.

And, Lord, we pray for Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Guide us through this season of transition. Help us remember the blessings of our past, remain faithful in the present, and look toward the future with open hearts. Give wisdom to those discerning our congregation’s next steps, and prepare both our church and the pastor who will one day join us in ministry.

Teach us to listen for Your voice, to care for one another, and to trust that Your work continues even when we cannot see the whole picture.

When the road seems long, give us strength for today. When the road takes an unexpected turn, give us courage to follow. And when we do not know what lies ahead, remind us that You are already there.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our companion on the journey and our hope for all that is to come.

Amen.