Weekly Devotional - Samantha Mosca
A Roundabout God
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
— James 1:2-4
I avoid roundabouts when I can help it. Those circular, one-way intersections are designed to keep traffic flowing safely, but most days they make me want to close my eyes and pray to God — because half the cars entering don't seem to know whether to slow down, speed up, or yield. And yet the goal never changes: merge in, find your way around, and get back out.
Lately I've started seeing my life the same way. In my forties now, I've had enough ups and downs to recognize a pattern — what Pastor Pete said on Sunday, "Spiritual power is for those whose lives have been broken down and refined on the roundabout path that leads to humility and surrender." That phrase came to life in my mind, it really got me thinking about the roundabouts in my life. The ones where I closed my eyes and accelerated a bit faster on entry. The ones where I near came to a complete stop and then inched my way in. And the ones that I glided in and out with ease.
God has His own roundabout. We get a calling — mine has always been people, encouraging the women, wives, daughters, friends, coworkers, and even the fellas whose paths cross mine. Then comes the delay, those long stretches where I feel stuck circling, wondering if today even counts. Sometimes there's a detour, where I think I've finally found the exit only to merge straight into another loop. And through all of it, there's formation — the slow, daily shaping that happens as I open His Word, even on the days I barely manage it. James tells us this isn't wasted motion. The testing, the circling, the merging and re-merging — it's perseverance doing its work in us, making us complete.
I don't fully understand fulfillment yet. I believe Jesus is the fulfillment for us all, and that the fullness still waiting for us is the day we stand before His majesty and are wrapped in His embrace. Until then, I'm learning to trust the roundabout instead of fearing it.
Something to consider: Where in your life right now do you feel like you're stuck circling — and what might God be forming in you while you wait for the exit?
— Sam Mosca
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
— James 1:2-4
I avoid roundabouts when I can help it. Those circular, one-way intersections are designed to keep traffic flowing safely, but most days they make me want to close my eyes and pray to God — because half the cars entering don't seem to know whether to slow down, speed up, or yield. And yet the goal never changes: merge in, find your way around, and get back out.
Lately I've started seeing my life the same way. In my forties now, I've had enough ups and downs to recognize a pattern — what Pastor Pete said on Sunday, "Spiritual power is for those whose lives have been broken down and refined on the roundabout path that leads to humility and surrender." That phrase came to life in my mind, it really got me thinking about the roundabouts in my life. The ones where I closed my eyes and accelerated a bit faster on entry. The ones where I near came to a complete stop and then inched my way in. And the ones that I glided in and out with ease.
God has His own roundabout. We get a calling — mine has always been people, encouraging the women, wives, daughters, friends, coworkers, and even the fellas whose paths cross mine. Then comes the delay, those long stretches where I feel stuck circling, wondering if today even counts. Sometimes there's a detour, where I think I've finally found the exit only to merge straight into another loop. And through all of it, there's formation — the slow, daily shaping that happens as I open His Word, even on the days I barely manage it. James tells us this isn't wasted motion. The testing, the circling, the merging and re-merging — it's perseverance doing its work in us, making us complete.
I don't fully understand fulfillment yet. I believe Jesus is the fulfillment for us all, and that the fullness still waiting for us is the day we stand before His majesty and are wrapped in His embrace. Until then, I'm learning to trust the roundabout instead of fearing it.
Something to consider: Where in your life right now do you feel like you're stuck circling — and what might God be forming in you while you wait for the exit?
— Sam Mosca
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