When God Calls Us to Pivot: Life Lessons from *Friends* and a Wedding Dance Floor

Picture this (or take a second to watch this video): Ross, Chandler, and Rachel crammed into a narrow stairwell, grappling with a too-large couch and a too-small space. Ross, with eyes wide and voice shrill, shouts, “Pivot! PIVOT!” as if sheer volume will move the couch itself. Chandler’s patience breaks, and his exasperated “SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UUUUUP!” echoes, sparking laughter in living rooms across the country.

But why does this moment resonate beyond the sitcom? It’s because we’ve all been there—straining under the weight of plans that we think are perfectly drawn out, only to find ourselves stuck, realizing that God is calling out, “Pivot!” The laughter fades when it’s real life, and we’re the ones trapped in the stairwell, pushing against what feels immovable.

When Our Plans Meet God’s “Pivot”

We map out our futures with meticulous care, like Ross sketching his stairwell diagram. Career paths, relationships, family—everything is planned out. Yet, just when we think we have the perfect plan, God clears His throat, and calls out His divine “Pivot!”

Joseph, from the Bible, is a perfect example. He probably envisioned an easy life, tending sheep and growing old with a simple, happy family. Instead, he found himself betrayed, enslaved, and imprisoned, each step seeming further from his dreams. Imagine him in that dark cell, feeling the echo of “Pivot!” off the stone walls. Every detour was a redirection, shaping him into the leader who would eventually save his people and reunite his family.

Moses faced a similar turn. Raised in privilege, he likely thought his story would continue with Egyptian luxury until rage led him to murder and exile. Years into his new life as a shepherd, God’s “Pivot!” appeared as a burning bush, sending him back to Egypt to free a nation. You can almost hear his internal voice, Chandler-like in disbelief: “Shut up, God. I can’t do this.” But God knew what Moses couldn’t yet see—that this pivot was precisely where he needed to be.

The Wedding Pivot

I was reminded of this divine course correction recently at a wedding I had the honor of officiating. My high school friend, Page, asked me to preside over her daughter Anna Kate’s big day. As we talked about the ceremony, it became clear that Anna Kate’s father wouldn’t be part of the traditional walk down the aisle. A major pivot was needed.

Instead of her father, Page walked her daughter down the aisle. The two were radiant! As Page led Anna Kate toward her future, we exchanged a look only longtime friends could share. Tears welled up—my tears! It was beautiful!!!

But God had more in store. During the reception, instead of a Father-Daughter dance, there was a Mother-Daughter-Sister dance. Page reached out to another old friend, Nancy, who had been on the dance team with her in high school, to choreograph something special.

When the music began—“You Got the Best of My Love” by The Emotions—Page, Anna Kate, and her sister Sarah took to the dance floor with pure, unfiltered joy. The crowd erupted, and Nancy cheered from the sidelines, mimicking every move. Huge smiles all around. I have no doubt that God was smiling. Don't take my word for it, watch the dance below.

Trusting the Director of the Pivot

At the end of the Friends scene, the couch is damaged, stuck between floors. While Ross’s “Pivot!” ends in frustration, God’s doesn’t. The path He redirects us to might not be easier, but it’s infinitely better.

So, next time you find yourself on that narrow stairwell of life, frustrated and wanting to yell, “Shut up!” to the heavens, take a breath. Listen for the whisper or shout of “Pivot!” and trust it. You may just find that God’s plan holds more love, joy, and light than you ever dreamed.