Trusting the Driver

by Barbie Perks

There are times when the life journey we are on looks a bit like this photo I took last week in the Ruaha National Park. We had been dealt some bad news prior to Christmas, and were taking some time to come to terms with it, and this break into the national park was helping us to relax and begin the journey to acceptance.

When we came to this spot in a road which had grown increasingly rough, I caught my breath when our driver took the right hand path because the left hand path looked the better one! The section near that bush ahead was quite daunting to look at, but we managed it fine, even if the vehicle did lean dangerously close to that huge ditch! 

I found myself thinking about this – it was one of those God-given moments that challenge me and inspire me at the same time. 

• In the physical moment of time, I was trusting the driver who had proved himself an excellent driver on these challenging, rain-damaged roads through the park that day. I didn’t even grab at the hand rail as I realised the amount of trust I had in him.
• In the spiritual moment of time, God was asking me if I was trusting him to drive/guide us through the daunting time that was ahead of us. God has led us time and time again through moments that seemed unbearably bleak and dark, I can trust him to lead us through this place again!!
• In the emotional moment of time, it was such a blessing to realise how much God cared about me, that he would speak this message to a wounded soul and provide comfort.

Words from Deuteronomy have been cropping up these past days:

Deuteronomy 2:7 “The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert…he has been with you, and you have not lacked anything”

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you”

Deuteronomy 1:32,33 “….trust the Lord your God who goes ahead of you on your journey…to search out places for you…and to show you the way you should go…” (my positive interpretation!)

Psalm 126:5-6 “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

Psalm 139, especially v23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts….and lead me in the way everlasting.”

For those who are reading this, may I leave you with a project? 

Would you become mindful of the roads you travel physically the next few days? Look around you and observe what God may be saying to you as you travel through your day, through your week. Who do you see, that you could pray for? Are there any signs of new life amidst the chaos you might find yourself in? Let the road speak to you and may you encounter the Lord your God in a new and inspiring way. 

May the Lord our God being healing to the trauma we have experienced at the hands of others, as we seek his guidance above all.

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