“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).
Have you ever read a Scripture passage in the morning, only to see the passage repeated to you throughout the day? Or maybe God provided you with a same day object lesson that reinforced the passage you had been meditating on which drove the meaning home in a new way.
Driving to a nearby state a few years ago, I had just such an object lesson. I was taking a day trip to visit with some extended family the Saturday before Easter Sunday. My mom had suggested I take her car since she didn’t drive it anymore. It was a beautiful day, and I was greatly looking forward to the trip. Before I started out, it was a novel experience for me to use her car’s destination assistant for navigation. It was simply a quick phone call to a live person who looked up the destination address, then transmitted directions to the car’s navigation system. Step-by-step directions were broadcast through the audio system so all I had to do was turn on the radio, listen and drive. I didn’t even need to take my hands off the steering wheel. I settled in and opened the sunroof to enjoy some beautiful early spring weather.
Now, before I go any further, it is important to share with you that I have made this long distance drive many times in the past. That day, however, I was heading to a different town a short distance from where I usually drove which is why I opted to use navigation. As I entered New Jersey, it was a bit of a surprise when I was instructed to turn away from my usual route. My skepticism was registered in a raised eyebrow, but I decided to follow the directions given. As I drove, I realized I was driving what would be about 50 miles out of the way. I glanced at the screen and saw that the arrival time approximated what I had hoped for, so I trusted the navigation system. I relaxed and decided to enjoy the drive since there was very little traffic.
Then came the direction to turn along an unfamiliar backroad, then another, and another after that. I soon found myself driving through a very remote area. I expected to come across a dirt road, some run down shacks and hear banjos playing at any moment. After a few hairpin turns on a road with no shoulder and a steep drop off, I had absolutely no idea where I was and did not see a soul in sight to ask for directions. I had no choice but to rely entirely on the navigation system to get me safely back to civilization and to my destination. Thankfully, it eventually did, but not without slightly nauseating feelings of fear and trepidation.
Some of you might think I overreacted in feeling that way, but I have a history with this technology. I once had a GPS app lead me directly to the base of a short pier and tell me to continue driving. Another time, I was directed to continue driving north which would have taken me right into a local airport and through the baggage terminal in the main concourse. But my favorite is when I was directed to turn into the grounds of a psychiatric hospital that once housed the criminally insane. They actually once performed lobotomies and housed lifers there. I did make the turn that day because I knew the hospital had long ago closed down, and I decided to take a quick break from a long, stressful commute home.
Oh, and there was the time that it sounded like my GPS started speaking in tongues (insert eyeroll). Yup, this really happened, and others have told me they’ve experienced the same.
So, what does this have to do with trust and not leaning on my own understanding?
My difficulty is this. We are commanded to trust God with all of our being. The wisdom literature, which includes the book of Proverbs, teaches that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. God is worthy of our trust, and He is sovereign over all of creation. That creation is living and active and includes the navigation technology which frustrates me and sometimes causes alarm when it leads me astray. Yes, GPS was developed under God’s loving watchfulness over His creation, but God is NOT IN the GPS technology. To suggest otherwise, is a blatant misuse and misunderstanding of the technology and just as bad theology as the bumper sticker that boldly claims, “God is my co-pilot.” That GPS app directing you is simply a tool to help navigate from one location to another more seamlessly if you choose to use it.
Do you see the difference?
It seems to me that we sometimes treat our technology, which is good, as if it were God who defines good. We trust technology to fix us or our circumstances sometimes at the expense of using our God-given brains, or even respecting human dignity and neurodiversity. Perhaps, it is not the technology gods we worship, but rather we have an unquenchable thirst for the idol of greater efficiency or productivity. We desire desperately to feel a sense of accomplishment or to change our circumstances to feel better, and we numb our minds with our devices. We might perhaps trust our technology to save us more than we trust Jesus to do so. This, I can assure you, is never a good thing. Only the God of the Bible saves. Siri and Alexa can help you out in a pinch with a quick task (or apparently with a long walk off of a short pier if you so desire), but only Jesus provides the salvation we all desperately need.
So, here’s the thing. Technology IS good, but it is not God. We all need to understand that – the end-users, developers, technocrats, market analysts and anyone else ready to share an opinion on this hot topic. I want to be clear: There are no technology gods to appease by sacrificing our time, our relationships, our integrity, and perhaps even our peace of mind to. When you find yourself losing immeasurable hours in tech use and start to feel the first signs of brain fog, simply say “no” and turn the device off. Give it a time out. Put the device down, walk away, and find something else to do. You are its owner and master. You are also responsible for your own self care and for setting healthy boundaries. Trust me on this: when you do, the cloud will begin to lift and your brain, your future self and your loved ones will thank you.
One of the wisest pieces of advice I once heard about technology usage was at a Q Ideas Conference several years ago. When evaluating a new technology (or reviewing usage patterns for current technology), the speaker urged those in attendance to keep in mind the two commandments which Jesus identified as summarizing all of the Law and the Prophets: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:34-40). With this in mind, if the use of a particular technology or device assists in building these relationships, then we should consider adopting it. If it causes rifts or disrupts either relationship, we ought to consider holding off on adopting that technology until it is better understood, or simply take a hard pass if necessary.
Now I want to reiterate. I enjoy technology in most of its iterations. In general, I do trust that it will do what I ask it to do and do so faithfully, without malfunction or unexpected and unnerving, simulated human response. I love gadgets that make certain aspects of my life easier or automate things I would rather not be doing in order to free up my time to do what I am called to do. I like the creativity of it. I also freely admit I have concerns and questions because as humans involved in its development, application and usage, we also make mistakes.
But I’ve applied the advice I heard at that conference many, many times since I first heard it and have found it to be sound and godly. It is helpful to remember that at the beginning and end of the day, our lives are about relationship: relationship with the triune God who has eternally existed in perfect relationship Himself between Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the relationship we have with other human beings. This flies in the face of all the enchanting distractions and noise the world might offer. It keeps my focus on the One in whom I have put my trust unreservedly, and He makes clear the way forward much more effectively through His word (the Bible) than any navigation system I have ever used.
I wish I remember the speaker’s name at that conference in order to give him credit. In effect, He was simply reminding us of Jesus’ command, and how it could be applied to filter our tech use. If I do remember the speaker’s name, I will properly attribute that bit of wisdom I have found so useful in a comment here.
Love God, love others, and please use technology wisely and with discernment. Be sure to take regular breaks from screens.
Maybe on one of those breaks, you can pick up and read or even listen to someone else read the Bible in order to get to know the God of the universe more fully. Only then can you start to recognize and experience His trustworthiness and see His direction for your life.
This will give you the necessary altitude to better understand your purpose in the lives of those around you as God unveils the road before you, giving you step by step instructions as you go. Listen carefully for God’s voice, trust He will make your paths straight when you submit to Him, and enjoy the journey.
Peace, Alison
Photo credit: AndreyPopov on http://www.istock.com.
in heartbreak and in hope 
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