Has your life gone exactly like you thought it would? For most of us, the honest answer is no. Our lives are full of unexpected turns, delays, and detours. We plan our steps, but we must also learn to wrestle with the stops. As believers, we need to build a biblical framework for when curveballs are thrown our way, so we can navigate them with confidence and make sense of it all.

The great theologian Arthur Pierson once found himself in the study of George Mueller, a man renowned for his faith. Looking through Mueller’s personal Bible, Pierson came to Psalm 37:23, which says, “The steps of a godly man are ordered by the Lord.” In the margin, Mueller had written, “And the stops too.” This profound insight reminds us that God is not only in our forward motion but also in the moments He brings us to a halt. When we face a detour, we can trust the promise of Scripture: “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13).