A safer journey
Several weeks ago, I drove nearly 100 miles to pick up a china cabinet my son and daughter-in-law were sharing with me. I was excited! I’ve never had a place to display china and looked forward to receiving their gift.
The ride to their house was uneventful. My trusty truck did well on the interstate–almost keeping up with the blazing speeds of other vehicles on the eight-lane highway. Once I arrived, my loved ones helped me load the two-piece unit, carefully wrapped the taller glass portion. and padded around both pieces. My son tied everything down tightly.
Once back on the interstate, traveling at nearly a snail’s pace compared to those in a great hurry to get to their destination, I noticed, with great trepidation, that the my 55 mph speed created wind to buffet the blankets being used to protect the furniture. The coverings threatened to escape multiple ropes and clamps. I stopped on the side of the interstate, attempted to recapture the non-cooperative coverings, and tighten down the ties. I added extra ropes, crawling under the truck and scaling the top of the furniture in what I feared was a futile attempt to secure my load.
Cars sped past me at a frightening speed as I worked.
I prayed for safety.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
I confess–I didn’t have much faith in my ability to succeed at that moment.
I was scared.
“What ifs” tumbled through my mind like a raging river at flood stage.
- What if I cannot secure these covers so they stay on?
- What if one blows off and creates an accident?
- What if I’ve been foolish in thinking I could do this by myself?
I missed my Farmer Bob–he would have known what to do.
I prayed for wisdom and courage.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:18-19
After my second stop on the side of the interstate, I called my son. “I can’t go home the usual way. Can you find me an alternate route?”
Because he is young and much better at technology than I, my son found some backroads quickly and outlined a different way, following rural roads.
God guided me to change my journey–to follow a different, safer pathway to my destination.
How often does our Father do that for us–granting us a safer pathway or road to follow–if we allow Him to?
Of course, God doesn’t promise us that the new journey will be easy. In fact, the new road He places before us may be even more difficult than our previous path. But, He does promise to be with us–to protect us–to never forsake us. God watched over me on the side of the interstate. He kept me safe on the journey home. A trip that normally takes me about 90 minutes required over four hours as I crept along those back roads.
But, I arrived safely at my destination.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Even though my faith weakened at one point in my journey with the china cabinet, God watched over me. He picked me up when fear threatened, granted me wisdom to make a better decision, and gifted me with a loving son to help me find a safer road. When my faith falters in my life journey, God is always faithful. My Father gifted me (and you) with a Son that has given us a safe road to our eternal home.
Can you share a time when God rescued you from a dangerous path and sent you in a safer direction?
Katherine, you are so brave to climb under a truck on the side of the interstate! I have been there before too, with traveling alone and hauling stuff, but I never crawled under the vehicle. Your faith kept you through the journey and got you safely home. Our path of life is riddled with different roads and some of them are rough and filled with holes. Faith is our guidance system as we hold on to His promises. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Thank you for calling my brave, Barbara. I didn’t feel so brave at the time, but perhaps the John Wayne quote I like kept me going. “Courage is being terrified but saddling up anyway.” I was terrified! But I knew I had to do something. God answered my prayers and took care of me.
First, congratulations on the new china cabinet. Secondly, good on you for being resourceful enough to realize that you could cause an accident with the inability to secure your load properly and looking for alternate routes. That’s the difference between tenacity and stubbornness my friend. Last, it always amazes me how God can direct us in everything if we’ll just tune in an listen. I wish I had know “Farmer Bob” better, but I feel confident in saying that he would have been very proud of how you channeled that “in control” nature and sought an alternate approach to avoid the problem. He would be proud of your resourcefulness and tenacity ma’am.
Thank you, my friend. I hope Bob would be proud. I learned so much from him, but there are so many lessons I still need. During this harvest season as I can jams and jellies and make pickles, I think about how pleased Bob was that I could do all that. But I wish I knew how to fix the fence, repair a lawn mower, and use a chain saw. I admit to being stubborn sometimes, but tenacity sounds better, doesn’t it? Wishing you blessings (and tenacity) on the ranch.
Loved hearing about this experience. I was with you at every mile and turn. I could name several experiences where I could apply the verses you gave – one in particular would be relocating from one state to another but in my life it’s everyday. Lam, 3:22~23 is a continuous refrain.
Thank you for sharing the example of moving. That’s most definitely a change in pathway. Moving is always a challenge, even when it’s the best thing for us. I love sunrises–the promise of a new day. Lamentations 3:22-23 always reminds me of God’s faithfulness and I think of His love and care for us in the glory of sunrise.
Great story and a lesson for even those who don’t know Jesus. If you’re having difficulty keeping up with the world, try a different path. Good on’ya, Miss Katherine.
Thank you, Warren. It seems obvious, doesn’t it? If life is not going well, we should change our pathway. But sometimes we struggle and struggle and refuse to choose another path and the trials and roadblocks overwhelm us. Thanks for you encouragement.
I love your wisdom in taking the detour. It’s so hard to do such things alone. Great story, Katherine!
Thank you, Nancy. I’m so thankful that God answered my prayers for help and guidance. Even though I felt alone, God let me know He was with me.
A victory here is that you stopped to attempt to fix the situation rather than full steam ahead in over-confidence. And when that didn’t work, you were humble and wise to call for help. That’s where I get caught most often. Mary thinks Mary’s got this. God is good to allow me to experience otherwise. I love this truth: “In fact, the new road He places before us may be even more difficult than our previous path” He does turn up the heat and is always present in the midst of it. Thanks for sharing your story, Katherine!
Mary, I have some of that same, “I’ve got this” syndrome myself. I think mine often comes from not consulting God in advance of a situation, thus my own independence takes control. Of course in this particular case, I never felt confident. Perhaps that is what saved me–reaching out to God for help quickly. I like your term, “victory.” I admit to feeling really victorious when I pulled into my driveway and both the china cabinet and I were unscathed. Thank you, Mary.
Hi Katherine, I am refreshed reading about your journey in a truck on a long drive… and God brought you through it. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your encouragement, Debbie. Your kind comment refreshed me as well. Wishing you a blessed week.
My heart was in my mouth as you climbed under that truck on the interstate! I’m so glad you arrived home safely and now have a beautiful way to display your china. I also appreciate your insightful lesson about God putting us on a safer pathway through Jesus, just as your son helped you find a safer road. I love Lamentations 3:22-23, and that’s a gorgeous photo.
In the winter, I am blessed with beautiful sunrises over one of our horse pastures. When summer comes and the path of the sun shifts with the season, the sun rises behind towering oaks and doesn’t display its glory until much later in the morning. Sunrises remind me of God’s majesty and power and the promise of a new day. I think that’s why I love the verse from Lamentations so much. Every morning we are reminded of His great love and faithfulness. Blessings, my friend.
I appreciate your perseverance, determination, and wisdom in solving your dilemma. God equips us with courage, strength, and is always willing to lend a helping hand when we turn to Him.
Thank you for your encouragement, Candyce. Like you, I am so thankful that God equips us and guides us to meet the trials we face. I’m especially grateful for His helping hand and for the “helpers” He sends us to love, support, and encourage us along our life journey.
Your blog makes me think about how God took the children of Israel through the longer route in the wilderness and not by the way of the Philistines because the shortest way wasn’t the safest. Thank you for reminding me that even if I feel like my life is on the slowest path ever, God will safely lead me to where HE wants me. Thanks for sharing.
Joanna, Thank you for sharing the story of the children of Israel and their long route to the Promised Land. Our lives are a lot like that, I think. And we’re often just as stubborn as the Israelites. Thank you for reminding us that God knows the right path for us, even if we think it’s too slow.