Ever driven through a round-a-bout? I guess some traffic engineer thinks sending people in circles is more efficient than a stop light.
After he retired from teaching, my father ferried racing greyhounds to New England. One of his favorite stories involved being stuck in a traffic circle near Boston, pulling a 20 foot dog trailer! Here’s how he described it: “A bunch of people going in circles trying to make their turn by taking turns.”
Whose turn is it anyway?
I’m sure it’s in the driver’s manual, but in practice the round-a-bout has no hard and fast rules.
Ah, the classic stop light; now here’s a simpler solution! Red means stop. Green means go. And yellow means wait (even if you’re late).😇
Yet when it comes to walking with God, the experience can feel more like a round-a-bout than a red light. It’s not a precise stop, go or wait; rather, it’s a keep-circling-until-it’s-your-turn reality.
Yes, there are places in the Bible where God gives specific “stop light” style guidance (Numbers chapter nine is a good one), but these aren’t the every day norm.
Picture all the Bible heroes whose lives didn’t travel in a straight line. Moses comes to mind. I mean, forty years on the back side of the desert?! Sounds like a round-a-bout thing. Or brave queen Esther. Her’s wasn’t a “stop light life;” she kept circling–waiting for the chance to make a big difference.
So if it seems like your life is on ⏸, maybe you’re not stuck at a red light after all. You’re just coming back around to make your turn.
There now. Feel better?
Here are a few of my favorite “Circle Back” scriptures. Please share one of yours!
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 (NIV)
“He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3b (NIV)
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
41 responses to “Circle Back”
Thanks for the recommendation!
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I hate waiting too! But it’s always better to wait for God’s timing. Thank you for reading and commenting.
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“Maybe you’re not stuck at a red light after all. You’re just coming back around to make your turn.” Love that, David! Sometimes we just have to wait for God’s timing!
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May God bless you as well, Tina!
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Thanks David. I needed this one as well. I feel like my life is both on pause and I’m going in circles. Those are all great verses. ❤ God Bless!
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Thanks, CG.
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Great analogy about waiting for God.
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There’s a great book “The Next Right” that’s talks about taking the next step for God.
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Love this!
Great perspective. I drove in a round about while traveling in another state with no experience on what to do. It was a great time. 😜
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Thanks, Mandy.
When traffic is light, the circles are merely a nuisance. It’s during the busy times (like mostly 24/7 in Boston) when things get dicey.
Agreed! Heaven has no round-a-bouts. Every road leads straight to God’s throne.
Thanks for stopping by. 🙏❤️
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Traffic circles are truly hazardous. My dad is in road construction so I’ve been around this my whole life. All kinds of horrid statistics. Anyway, good analogy. Praise God there will be a day when we all our cycles from
spiritual to emotional to physical will come to an end as we are with our Lord! Again, great post!
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Thanks for sharing, Pete. And thank you for the scripture verses! God Bless.
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I’m originally from Connecticut where people got so fed up with the circles they began eliminating them( though stopping at a red light is still optional it seems) My favorite verse and regular prayer is Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways O God teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me. For you are the God of my salvation. On you do I WAIT all the day.
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Yes, they most certainly do.
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Yes! Thank God for 2nd, and even 3rd, chances.
🙏❤️
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I guess they just take some getting used to. My brother in law lives in Albany, NY, and there are traffic circles everywhere. Thanks, Matt!
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So true, Beth! I’ve noticed (when off leash) dogs take a round a bout way as well. Thank you for stopping by. Blessings! 🙏❤️
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A deeper love. Yes! I’ll take some of that, Maria. God Bless. 🙏❤️
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I like this perspective! When I’m circling, I figure it’s because I didn’t learn the lesson He had for me the first time and I have to give it another try!
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Each scripture you shared speaks to different points in my own journey that needed the reminder and nudging of our Lord is leader back to our center, to our hearts. I like the idea you chose here too with the use of traffic roundabouts. I just traveled back home to N.E. After reading this I’m connecting how deeply healing the trip was, leading me around the circles both literally and figuratively back to my heart center, my children. God’s directions are always set with that as the focus=a deeper love 💗
Thank you David🙏
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This is great David! Over the last 5 years our area has been taking out stop lights and replacing them with round-a-bouts to help improve the flow of traffic and reduce the traffic buildup at lights. I find I’m much more alert when handling a round-a-bout than a traffic light as I have to process all that is going on around me while maneuvering myself out of the circle at the correct point. The same is true when on a spiritual round-a-bout. I have to be alert and listen closely for the moment when the Lord’s voice that says “This is the way walk in it.” (Is. 30:21)
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They started putting roundabouts in my city. At first some people were confused lol
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Me too! Thanks, Barb. 🙏❤️
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There are some advantages to living in little places…🤗
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BTW – I am not a fan of traffic circles but they are becoming more popular in our area.
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I definitely feel like I’m going in circles sometimes. But oh, the adventure along the way!
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When I moved to Canada, I found 4 way stops much easier to negotiate than roundabouts (as long as you are concentrating when you arrive at the stop sign!) And, in my opinion, stop lights are the easiest lead to follow of all. Thanks for getting me thinking with your post …. Have a blessed weekend, too, David!
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Perhaps it’s the folks (like me) who don’t drive through many round abouts who are the problem. Stop lights are much more common where I live in the US.
Your advice is solid (as usual). Keep doing the next right thing. Blessings!
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I grew up in the UK and learned to drive near London, an area full of simple and complicated many-lane roundabouts. There are actually clear rules which everyone follows (although these rules vary from country to country). Maybe the best advice is to keep doing the next right (correct) thing and eventually you’ll be on a clear path again 🙂
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Thanks, Jeff!
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“God is ignoring me!” No, you just missed the turn heading to Him. Nice!
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You’re welcome, Manu. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. My life in Christ has taken many turns, but I’m still on the narrow path. At least that is my hope. 🙏❤️
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Great advice, Gary. In your wandering follow the Good Shepherd. This way we are never really lost, just looking for our next turn.
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Thank you, Sally.
My little home town doesn’t have any stoplights or runabouts either.
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I believe it’s yield to the right here in the US as well. Unfortunately, the typical American attitude is, “After me everybody else comes first.”
Thanks for sharing a favorite verse. I like it! 🙏❤️
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Psalm 23, my most favorite wandering chapter. However, in wandering, follow the shepherd where he leads. No straight lines in my life David.
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Great analogy, David. This helps us to understand God’s timing.
I have not driven through a roundabout. Our village has no stoplights either. 🤗
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Roundabouts are a common experience in UK driving. In fact my town Glenrothes is renowned in Fife and beyond for the amount of roundabouts it has. In the UK at a roundabout we give way to traffic on the right.
“Make me know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.” – Psalm 25:4
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If we feel like life is on a stop maybe we are just circling back to take a turn – I really like that. This approach is such an encouraging way to look at things.
Thank you for sharing this David.
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I love Proverbs 3:5-6! Thank you, Bruce. Blessings to you as well!
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Well you’ve already got a couple of my favourites earmarked but here is one that I rely on: Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”
Blessings David!
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