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There is a famous saying, "כל עכבה לטובה"-every delay is for the best. If a flight is cancelled, a party is postponed or a doctor changed an appointment, it is all from Hashem for a great reason. We naturally dislike being held back from our regularly scheduled plans. But, if instead of complaining or becoming angry when it happens, we accept with Emunah that Hashem was behind it, we could turn those times into a great service of Hashem. Most of the time we don't see the benefit of cancelled plans or delays. But sometimes, even years later, we realize why we had to be at a certain place at a certain time, and how the canceled plans were Hashem's way of arranging it. Whether we see it or not, Hashem is the מכין מצעדי גבר-He is always guiding our steps, perfectly setting up tailor-made situations for each person's journey through life. I read a story in the book Emunah Shelema that one of the Yeshivot in Yerushalayim decided late in the week to give its students an "Off Shabbat," in which the boys go home. One boy, Moshe, could not go home that weekend because his parents were away. So, he asked his parents for permission to go with a friend to Tsfat for Shabbat. They agreed, and Moshe and his friend took an early bus on Friday morning to ensure that they would have enough time to get there before Shabbat. But that day, there was a large funeral and traffic was at a standstill. The boys started getting nervous. At one point, they realized there was no way they would make it to their destination before Shabbat, and they began regretting the whole trip. Moshe said, "I can't believe we had an off Shabbat the one week my parents were away. Now we're stuck with no place to go." Eventually, the traffic eased up, and with thirty minutes before Shabbat, the bus made a stop in Tveria. The boys decided to get off and ask at the first home they find if they could leave their bags there, and continue to shul with the hope that someone would invite them for Shabbat. They saw a home with candles lit in the window and knocked on the door. A man dressed for Shabbat opened the door and gave them the warmest greeting. They explained their situation, and the man said, "We would be honored if you would stay by us. We have plenty of room. Please come in. Get ready for Shabbat, and we'll leave together for Shul in fifteen minutes." That night, at the meal, the man told the boys the following: The previous week, he and his wife had been in the Ukraine. They were supposed to have been back for Shabbat, but something came up, and they had to stay longer. They weren't prepared to stay for Shabbat, so someone from that community invited them and treated them royally. He said that it was the most amazing Hachnasat Orchim he ever saw. They were so inspired that they said they also wanted to have guests and treat them like that. They knew it would be hard, because, Baruch Hashem, they had a very large family; every room was occupied with several children. Nevertheless, they were prepared to do whatever was necessary. They didn't return from the Ukraine until that day. They weren't even sure if they would make it home before Shabbat, so they told their children to remain with their grandparents in Yerushalayim. The man continued, "Baruch Hashem, we arrived home a few hours ago. My wife had time to prepare, and for the first time in years we have an empty house available to have guests. Then, you two knocked at our door. It was perfect timing!" The boys enjoyed a beautiful Shabbat there. The host was so impressed with Moshe that he suggested him as a Shiduch for his own daughter. Baruch Hashem, Moshe became his son-in-law. Hashem was working behind the scenes to bring that Shiduch to fruition. He orchestrated having the "Off Shabbat" on the one Shabbat Moshe's parents were away, having him arrive at that specific house in Tveria, giving Chizuk to the couple the week before to want to have guests and so much more. "כל עכבה לטובה"-every delay is for the best, whether we realize it or not. Hashem is always guiding our steps and putting us in the places we need to be.