Every Stop Has a Purpose

I mentioned yesterday in my devotional that I had the opportunity to go visit my son in Bible college and decided to take the train back home. One thing you quickly notice on a train trip is that the journey includes many stops. Some stations are busy and full of activity, while others seem small and quiet. As passengers, we sometimes wish the train would simply keep moving so we could arrive at our destination sooner.

But those stops are part of the journey. The railway schedule includes them for a reason, even if the passengers don’t fully understand why the train has to pause along the way. I have to admit, for me personally, those stops can sometimes feel frustrating. When the train slows down and sits at a station longer than expected, it’s easy to start thinking about the time and wishing we were already moving again. In those moments it can feel like a delay, almost like a waste of time, because all I want to do is reach my destination. Yet the reality is that every stop is built into the journey for a purpose, whether the passengers understand it or not.

Life can feel like that sometimes. We have a destination in mind and a timeline we would prefer. Yet along the way God allows unexpected pauses—seasons of waiting, setbacks, or circumstances that slow us down. In those moments we may wonder why the journey has stalled.

The truth is that God’s plan includes the stops as well as the movement. What feels like a delay to us may be preparation in God’s hands. He may be shaping our character, teaching us patience, or arranging circumstances we cannot yet see. Every station along the journey is part of His purpose.