“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

PROVERBS 16:9 (NIV)

It was one of those drives where life seemed to change all at once—the light, the traffic, even my direction. I was headed home after a long day at work, one of those nights when I just wanted the road to be smooth and quiet. But as I got closer to Cottage Grove, I noticed the orange glow of construction lights flickering in the distance.

Crews were repaving the highway, the truck easing forward as workers placed orange cones one by one, closing off lanes and slowing everything down. The smell of hot asphalt filled the air, and the rhythm of progress came at a crawl. I sighed, knowing this stretch of the highway was about to test my patience again.

After what felt like forever, I finally passed the construction zone, only to see flashing lights ahead. From a distance, I could see the red and blue strobes of sheriff’s vehicles cutting through the night sky. As I approached, their headlights reflected off the cones, forming a wall of light that forced traffic to a stop. The officers were diverting cars off the highway, guiding everyone onto a back-road detour. I didn’t know why. I just followed the new path.

As I drove through the dark back roads, I thought about how much life feels like that sometimes. You think you’ve mapped out every turn, every stop, every next step, and then something shifts. A job changes. A relationship ends. A plan falls through. For a long time, I struggled with that. I thought pivots meant failure.

But over time, I realized pivots are proof that you’re still moving. They’re the adjustments that keep you aligned when the original path no longer fits. Some of my best opportunities came after I pivoted. Some of my most meaningful lessons showed up when I thought the road had ended, only to discover there was a new lane waiting.

Pivoting taught me flexibility. It taught me to trust that even when my plans break, the journey doesn’t end. And most importantly, it showed me that God’s direction is bigger than my map.

Maybe you’ve found yourself in that same place, trying to make sense of a change you didn’t choose. Don’t fight it too hard. Sometimes what feels like a disruption is really a divine redirection.

I’ve learned to lean into those moments now, because a pivot might just be the turn that leads me closer to purpose.

A pivot isn’t failure. It’s proof you’re still moving towards purpose.

Keep moving forward,

Dr. Key