Well…it has been a frosty few days. Seems as if we’ve had our Winter all in one week. I know many of us can get cabin fever being cooped up for a few days. I have a view of Plano Road from my condo, and I watch the stream of cars going up and down. Some are taking it slow and being cautious, some are just zooming ahead as if there is no slippery ice under their wheels.
The way people are driving is sort of a reflection of life. Some take it slow and cautious, trying to be careful and not get into a jam. Others speed ahead as if there are no dangers, nothing to worry about. I’m not sure where I fall in that spectrum. I do like to be careful, but I also try not to let fear have too much sway in my journey.
There are quite a number of scriptures we can find which caution us not to be afraid, and against worry and anxiety. One of my favorites comes from Proverbs 3:5-6…”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” I’m reminded how placing my trust in God is so much better than trying to go through life on my own. God sees, God knows, and God is with me. Its true we all have to make a great number of decisions in our lives, and for our lives. With prayer and seeking God’s guidance, we can make those decisions boldly and with great confidence. If we are truly seeking God’s direction, God will show us the way. In Joshua 1:9 we read…”Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Again, we do not have to exhibit a spirit of fear, because we know God is with us.
Of course these scriptures don’t mean we can speed ahead hastily without a care for what is prudent. The roads we travel are slippery and dangerous at times. There are bends in the road we won’t be able to see around. There are some potholes and some rough road surfaces. But we also know if we take all of the precautions available to us, engage the prudent safety measures, seek God’s guidance and presence with us, we can make it through our journey.
I have a friend who is in Ottawa, Canada right now. I sent him some screenshots of our weather, the snow and ice and low temperatures. He was appropriately amazed as he knows Texas weather. But then he sent me a screenshot of the temperature there. It was -14 degrees and almost a constant snowstorm. The visibility was minimal and the landscape was covered in deep snow. I have another friend who is living in Napa Valley, CA, and he’s constantly sending me updates on their lovely mild weather.
We like to try and compare our journey to other people’s journeys. That’s not helpful to us at all. There is always going to be another’s journey which is different than ours. Some are better, others have it much worse. Our journey is ours alone, ours and God’s. How we prepare, how we travel, how we lean into God’s understanding and presence will make all the difference for us. We might wish we were on a different road, one with less perils, less unknowns, but the road is really not the issue. The issue is seeking God’s guidance and presence. When we include God in our preparations and realize God is with us, there is no need for fear or anxiety. Whatever happens to us, we will know God is right there. Our journey is going to have its ups and downs, its pitfalls and detours. Those are to be expected. What is also to be expected is God will see us through each mile of the way until we make it safely home.
Let me leave us with this, in Philippians 4:8, Paul says…”I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Paul faced a great many adversities and troubles. He was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, and through it all Paul was content. Why? Because Paul understood God was with him in every circumstance. Paul traveled his journey assured that God we see him through to the end and would welcome him home.
I’m writing this on Tuesday morning. We are all itching to get out of the house and go somewhere, anywhere, just to get out. Remember the roadways are still slippery. Bundle up to stay warm. Make sure you are roadworthy in your preparation. Be cautious and careful as you get out on the road. But know, always know, God is with you.
Your companion on the Way,
Pastor Tom