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 straight your paths.
I love to drive. I have always liked to just get in my truck and go somewhere. Road trips with friends when my truck was brand new. Camping and hiking and tubing were fun, but for me getting there was the best part. I love driving and singing to the radio and seeing the sights and just the whole experience of traveling. When I get to the point where I feel like I'm done with everything, my first fight or flight instinct is really flight. Running to my truck, jumping in, and just driving off into the sunset.
The girls and I went on a trip this weekend. It was our first time as a family driving over mountain passes and heading to Eastern Washington. We had a wedding Friday evening in Snohomish and once the wedding and reception were winding down, we went to the truck, the girls changed into their jammies, and we set off for our adventure. We didn't start out until 8:30, however, and by the time we started up over the pass it was pretty dark. Road construction and a road paving project on the west side of the pass left the roads as large black patches and the unpainted lines on the mountain roads didn't make the trip as exciting as I was hoping. Driving slower than I should have been and clutching the steering wheel, I made my way over the pass, praying with each turn and each mile that my truck drove. Asking Father God to protect us and keep us safe as we made our way through what seemed mile after terrifying mile. Trying not to let on that I was filled with fear, as my two little ones in the back seat made comments like "it's so dark" and "why are you going to slow?" and "are you ok, mommy?" I was relieved when we made it to the summit and started the descent down into the other side of the state. My hands released the steering wheel a bit, the color drained back into my cheeks, and I started breathing again.
We completed the tasks for the rest of the weekend, having a lovely and enjoyable time exploring Leavenworth and Wenatchee. We laughed and hugged and ate and walked our way into memories that will be etched into our hearts. But, as with most good things, it had to come to an end. Before we knew it we were packing up and jumping back into the truck and heading back over the mountain pass. This time would be better, I told myself. This time it is daylight and I can see the road and the beauty of the mountain. It would be light and there wouldn't be any reason to fear. So, after a few bonus activities, we headed back up over the pass. The sun was shining and the mountain pass was so green and beautiful. We reached the summit in no time and started the descent down the mountain.
And then I realized what Father God had done for us on our journey east. Seeing what was in front of me in the daylight, the drop off of the mountain, nothing separating our car from falling over the side except for the tiny concrete jersey barrier. On the way east over the mountains, I wanted nothing but to be going back down the other side. It was too dark for me to experience the fear of coming down off of the pass. I didn't see the rivers running right next to the guard rail. I didn't see the steep drop offs off the side of the mountain. I didn't know that just a few inches closer to the edge of the road and I could have flipped my car into a ditch. I was afraid, but I kept driving, trusting that God would carry us through to the Eastern side of Washington. And He did!
God protects us from so much! There are so many dangers and disasters in this road. We walk through our days, filled with fear over little things, when there are big things lurking in the background that God is just taking care of for us. We are so busy being frightened of the little things like not knowing where our lane is on the road, that we don't even notice the cliff lurking in the background. We are so focused on worrying about what is right in front of us, that we don't notice what God is doing behind the scenes. He is so awesome and so amazing! He is fighting for us each and every second of the day, protecting us from big dangers and super scary monsters. I know that I constantly make the mistake of trying to take care of everything on my own. I try really hard to orchestrate my life so that everything falls into place and all is well. I plow through and plan and try and arrange things, not even remembering that the one who is really in charge is Heavenly Father. HE is the one that is taking care of everything. HE is the one orchestrating my life so that everything falls into place. HE is the one that is making sure that all is well. HE is the one arranging things for me.
I worry too much. I don't trust enough. I don't have faith that He will drive me safely over the mountain passes. I need to release the control that I so desperately think I need to have and hand the reins over to Him. He is in charge! He is the one that is walking me through life. He is the one that I need to turn to in fear. Nothing I did on Friday night going over that mountain pass was on my own. As the verse at the beginning of this post says, I can not and should not trust in my own understanding. Trust in the Lord! Trust in God! Trust that He knows what is best for you and trust that He knows what you need!
On the way back over the mountain pass, seeing the steep curves and the sheer drop-offs that he protected me from, I began to acknowledge His presence in my life. His presence on this trip. He kept us safe. He made our path straight. He made my driving skills sure and he guided my truck over the mountains, in the dark, and without the physical markers of this world. He knew when I needed to slow down, when I needed to speed up, when I needed my heart to be of good courage. He made my path straight, even over that twisty, windy mountain pass. He made my path straight. The driving path, and the healing path that will be another blog post soon.
Thank you, Father, for guarding and protecting us in life always! Thank you, for always making our paths straight! Thank you, for reminding me to trust you, even when my head and my heart are telling me different. Thank you, for all that you do behind the scenes to keep us safe and protected!
My prayer for myself, and for anyone reading this, is that you would put your full trust in Father God. It's a difficult thing to do sometimes, something that I am for sure struggling with right now in this moment. But, luckily, He is a mighty, forgiving Father, who is just waiting for me to find my place in His love, and to run with faith towards his open arms. The path is straight. I just need to trust.
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