“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

Somewhere along the way, I had made a wrong turn.

On my way home from visiting my husband at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, I’d made a left when I should have gone right, or a right when I should have gone straight. Now I was lost in the center of Philadelphia, trying to get back on track. I needed help.

Before the days of GPS and Google Maps, I did what any sensible and desperate woman would do: I pulled over, locked my doors, and prayed.

🙏 Two Prayers, Two Roads
Luke 18 introduces us to two men who prayed—one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. They couldn’t be more different.
The Pharisee saw himself as righteous. He wasn’t like the sinners who came to ask forgiveness—not an adulterer, a robber, an evildoer, or even (horrors!) a tax collector. He fasted twice a week and gave a tenth of all he had. His prayer mentioned “I” five times. His focus was on himself.

The tax collector stood nearby, eyes downcast. His prayer was simple: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” He didn’t compare himself to the Pharisee. He came to God alone, repentant and seeking, beating his chest in grief.

🛣️ Getting Back on Track
The Pharisee’s words didn’t match his heart. He knew Scripture, yet somewhere he had taken the wrong road—moving further from God instead of closer.
The tax collector had it right. He recognized his need for mercy and direction. He knew he couldn’t find the way alone.

Being lost in an unfamiliar city was not pleasant. As I sat behind the wheel, I held a pity party. Why was I the one with a seriously ill husband? Why did I bear the responsibility—alone—of supporting my family? My prayer wasn’t eloquent. It was short, repeated, urgent.

I needed to get back on the right road.

Once I stopped beating my own chest and griping about my lot in life, God spoke to me in the still, small voice I was learning to recognize:
“Make a left. You’ll see a sign pointing to I-95 South.”
And I did.

💡 Takeaway
We’ve all fallen short of the glory of God. We all need help to get back onto the right road. Our prayers don’t need to be eloquent—they just need to be sincere. Like the tax collector, we must make sure our mouths match our hearts.
When we find ourselves lost, we have a choice: we can look to ourselves, or we can look to God—the One who always knows the way home.

🙏 Closing Prayer
Lord,
When we find ourselves lost, physically or spiritually, remind us that You are never far. Teach us to pray not with pride, but with humility. Help us recognize when we’ve taken the wrong road, and give us the courage to turn back toward You.
Like the tax collector, may we come before You with honesty and hope, trusting not in our own righteousness, but in Your mercy.
Guide our steps, soften our hearts, and lead us always on the path that draws us closer to You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.