White Out On I-94

TWILY Ministries | Love Notes| May 2008

Whiteout On I-94
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I used to work in a very high office building, and whenever I wanted to unwind, I'd find the nearest empty office, and I would sit near the window and just stare at the traffic below. I'd fix my eyes upon one single vehicle, and watch it, as it made its way from one point to another. With such a "towering view", I could see many of the obstacles the driver would be facing, as he got further up the road. Unfortunately, I had no way of letting him know about those obstacles. He would just have to wait and "be surprised" like everyone else.

I know why I enjoyed doing that somewhat "silly" ritual. It made me think about our heavenly Father, and how He continuously watches over us. Sitting high, He looks low, and carefully guides us, as we travel along life's highway. Unlike me, though, His doesn't have a limited view. He is able to see every obstacle, and in fact, able to declare the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-11). It is quite comforting to know that when we are unable to see our way clear, the Lord, with His perfect eye, is able to "safely" navigate us through - spiritually, physically, or otherwise. I am a witness, as I recall one of the "many times" I was fully aware that the "eye of the Lord was guiding me! Here's what happened.

One winter evening, I was driving home from Indiana. It was a clear night, and the traffic was moving freely, so then, I had no problem chatting on the telephone with one of my sisters. One minute I was telling her about my holiday visit, since she had not visited that year, and the next minute, I was screaming in her ear, "GIRL, I'M HANGING UP!... I CAN'T SEE A THING!" I didn’t even wait to say goodbye, I just tossed the telephone - somewhere - and put both hands on the steering wheel. We were in a MAJOR WHITEOUT!

It had been so clear, but suddenly, it was as though someone had draped my car in a thick white blanket. Traffic slowed to an absolute crawl and I couldn't tell what - if anything - was on either side of me. I know we walk by faith and not by sight, you all, but I was PETRIFIED! Having absolutely no "whiteout savvy" - nor visibility - I did the only wise thing: I screamed - this time to Jesus - "LORD, PLEASE HELP ME! I CANNOT SEE! THERE IS NO WAY I CAN SEE THE ROAD, AND IF YOU DON'T GUIDE ME, LORD, I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH!" - and I meant every word. (Incidentally, who knew that a hit song would come out - years later - entitled Jesus Take the Wheel?) By now, tears were streaming down my face, which I couldn't wipe , because that would require taking a hand off the steering wheel. That wasn’t an option, so I just kept praying and praying, and praying, waiting on the manifestation of His answer. Then it got seemingly worse; I started drifting off the road. I knew that, because I could hear the "rumbling" from the highway safety strips. Oh, that’s why they are called rumble strips! It was a mess! Strangely, that’s when I began to calm down. At that point, I just resolved, ”There is nothing else I can do! I have already asked the Lord to guide me - to see me through this!” I really thought I could die that night, and with that, I thought about what that meant as a Christian, according to the Apostle Paul, “gain.” - (Phil 1:21). That’s when I really stopped worrying about it. Anyway, it wasn’t time, obviously. The Lord guided me back to the road. I KNOW He did it, because again, I could not see a thing; NOTHING!

We were still in the whiteout, though, and I was so tired from driving so "tensed-up". There seemed to be no end in sight, especially driving at the speed we were - 30 mph. Eventually, though, we were in the clear. I can't begin to explain the level of JOY I experienced when I saw "civilization". I began to thank God over-and-over again and was about to call my sister back, when - believe it or not - we drove into another whiteout. The "joy" was short-lived and I reverted back to panic. I kicked myself for not "escaping when I had the chance." In spite of me, however, the Lord led me safely through - just as He had before. This time, I praised Him all the way home. It had been a rough journey, one filled with blinding obstacles, but He saw me through - literally - and He will do the same for you!

If you are going through your own "whiteout" conditions - spiritual or otherwise - feeling alone in your struggles and your hurts, please be encouraged. Your Father knows, for He is "always" watching over you and me. One of my favorite passages that shows this type of "watching" is found in the book of Genesis. In that passage (16:6-14), Hagar had run away, after being mistreated by Sarai. When she was met by the Angel of God, she said, "You are the God who sees me." She named the well of water Beer-lahai-roi, meaning "well of the Living One who sees me" . Hagar had felt alone and mistreated, but God had seen her all along, and He sees you too - really!. He is watching over us and ready to rescue (1 Peter 3:12; Psalm 34:12-16)! With these truthful nuggets, we can travel confidently down life's highway. He is there to "see us through!"

Until next time, stay encouraged.

Sincerely,

Joyce

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