Storm Unseen
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your
paths straight. (NASB)
After two weeks in Florida, USA, away from the winter, with our only concern
being how we were going to spend our sunny days, it was time to think about the
journey home. Knowing that the drive would take us twenty-four hours, and having
four drivers, we decided to make the trip without an overnight stay. In the age
of technology that we live in, it is very easy to check the weather forecast for
a twenty-four- to thirty-six-hour period. Having done this and having seen no
significant weather patterns, we planned our route home. What we hadn't taken
into account in our planning was the influence that "lake effect snow" can and
did have on our journey home.
We travelled uneventfully until we were about 500 miles from home. It was at
this point that we had engine troubles, which slowed our journey down as we
limped slowly towards home. The next encounter was the lake effect snow that we
had to drive through for the last three hours of the trip. Stopping was not
really an option due to the engine troubles, and yet going on seemed an
impossible task also. Pressing on was what we did. Text messages were sent out
to people we knew to ask them to pray for us and for the van to get us home.
After thirty hours on the road, we arrived in the driveway safe and sound, with
the travel trailer backed in place and the canoe and kayak safe and secure on
the roof of the van. Text messages were then sent out to let people know that we
had arrived home, thanking them for their prayers. At the end of the trip all
the praise and glory was given to God, who had seen us through the storm.
The next day, the van went in to the mechanic, who to this day cannot explain
how we drove the last 500 miles. The less technical explanation of this is that
the van needed a new engine, which has just been installed.
It would have been so easy for us to focus on the bad weather, the breakdown of
the van, and the subsequent cost of having the van repaired. In doing this, we
would have missed the Lord's hand and His promises in our lives and daily
situations.
How many times have we Christians found ourselves in the middle of the storms of
life, or have run into such a storm, whether prepared or unprepared for it? It
is during these times that if we take it to the Lord, then our faith increases.
I am not saying that we won't doubt, but instead, we aim toward knowing what to
do with doubts when they do come at us. Doubts should drive us back to God's
promises and not cause us to back away from Him.
Deuteronomy 31:8 - The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he
will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
(NIV)
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the Word and Your promises that we have through
reading the Word. Thank You that we can call upon others who will come to our
aid in prayer. Lord, bring comfort to those who are weak in their faith right
now. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Julie Bowles julieanni@rogers.com
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca