Anticipation of Trouble Ahead

Whenever you see those orange Road Work Ahead signs (especially on the Interstates) you just know you are in for delays, traffic jams and even rough road as you travel on. How often have you been on your way to an important event, whether for business or pleasure, and experienced those unexpected delays that added significant time to your journey? I can easily recall being on my way home from a tiring weekend or meeting and all I want is to get home and have the drive behind me. Then it happens, the sequential red brake lights ahead of me as traffic slows to a crawl. Time to settle in for a much longer drive home.

How like our journey with Christ is this scenario. We are strolling along, thrilled with various aspects of our walk with Him and then out of the blue, something happens that slows our journey to a crawl - literally sometimes on our hands and knees! Occasionally we even have to take a detour. "I never thought I would be going through this!" We are caught off guard; we are unnerved and our faith is often shaken. We never anticipated that the journey could take us on such rough roadways; that we would be stopped in our tracks; or that we might have to back up and begin again in a different direction. We never anticipated... but God did.

Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Listen to God's heart as you read those sentences again. He knew what we would face as we journeyed through this life as His chosen ones. There are not much more dire consequences then drowning, burning or being consumed. Yet in each case, He encourages us: I will not let that happen. The truth of that statement clearly tells us to anticipate times when we will feel as if we are drowning, burning or about to be consumed by the flames around us. If He is telling us that He is not going to let these consequences be our demise, then He is also telling us, these circumstances are going to occur in your life.

Lately I have been listening to people about whom I care deeply express the travails of the journey they are on. Hearts are breaking and pain is real. Darkness is oppressive in these precious lives and it threatens to suffocate them in its depths. This deep heavy void of light in their lives is as real to them as the sunshine is on a typical Georgia summer day. It is the absence of this light in their lives that makes the circumstances feel overwhelming. In spite of this, there stands God's promise - I will not let this destroy you. How do you get from this awful detour back onto the solid ground where the road is once again smooth and your path seems straight?

I wish I had an easy answer for everyone that needs it right now. I wish that I could give all of them magical words that would suddenly turn on neon lights proclaiming, "Just turn here and you will be back on your way!" But I don't. I have traveled this rough road myself and in the process, I discovered so many truths about myself and about Him. I would have never learned these hard lessons if I had not encountered the "Road Work in Progress" signs on my journey. Isaiah 43:18 - 19 But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. What an incredible vision this gives us of what is happening in our lives. He alerts us to look ahead, keep our eyes wide open, because just as we had not anticipated the trials and tribulations, we could not begin to imagine what He is preparing for us.

As I continue to study the Word in its depth and breadth, I continue to be amazed at how much our God loves us. I continue to be enchanted by His never giving up on us. I continue to be encouraged that the best is yet ahead for me and for all of you. I have known our Lord as my Savior for almost 20 years. This October 10th will be my 20th "Birthday" of being born again to His saving love. Anyone who knows me personally knows that those 20 years have not been a smooth road trip. There have been many detours and many stretches of rough highway. Yet I would not ask Him to reroute any of my journey. For without my journey I would not know Him as intimately as I do today. Without the specific journey that I have traveled, I would not be able to write what I do today. Without this incredible climb up rocky mountain roads, and struggle through stormy seas, I would not be the woman of God that I am today.

If I can offer any encouragement to each of you that is currently on a detour or a road undergoing resurfacing, allow me please to encourage you to delve deeply into the Word and surround yourselves with fellow believers who passionately pursue HIM and trust His promises. You will survive the current circumstances that have enveloped you. That is His promise. Love Him in spite of everything that is happening to you. Love Him above everything else in your life. Make Him your top and most important priority. He will not forsake you and He will carry you through these difficulties. That is His promise to you and I can vouch for His faithfulness. He is the most wonderful companion you could ever ask for. Try Him out.....