Megan Evans, Women’s Ministry Director LHBC
Luke 12:25
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” (NIV)
Have you ever been blessed by traffic? Nashville is home to many fun things, but its traffic is not one of them! It seems at any moment a high tide of cars can quickly pull you out to a sea of traffic. Last week, my daughter and I had just such an experience while driving to an appointment in the city. Helpless panic set in when our GPS informed us that the hour drive we had planned would now take an extra thirty minutes. We would never get there in time!
I found myself gripping the steering wheel and grumbling anxiously. We were clearly going to miss our appointment. Should we just go home? As I began apologizing to my daughter that our effort was for nothing, she said, “It’s OK mama. I guess it doesn’t help to worry about it. It won’t really get us there any faster.” Wow, nothing humbles a parent like wisdom’s role reversal. “You are absolutely right, I told her. In fact, I think there’s a Bible verse about that one,” I laughed, “I know I should be teaching you that, but I needed to hear that today!” She pointed to her phone, and lit up across her lock screen were the words of Luke 12:25 in pretty scrolled letters. She was absolutely right and how encouraging her words and this verse were to me at that moment.
We can’t avoid stressful situations, but we can choose how we react. God reminded me that I needed His peace instead of panic. And that reminder brought laughter, and encouragement, and dissolved the stress of the surrounding circumstances that I couldn’t change. 1 Timothy 4:12, additionally is a good reminder that our youth can be examples to us all and can encourage us.
We decided to keep driving. And as if on cue, our GPS arrival time changed; we actually gained 39 minutes. Our jaws dropped. Moments like that absolutely take my breath. I think God has a pretty good sense of humor and has fun hanging out with his children. We were actually early to our appointment of all things. It would seem that God enjoys blowing our mind every now and then with His love and reminders of His ever near presence.
The world could perhaps explain away our driving experience. But in that moment, God reset my heart and reminded me of His peace that He offers so freely in all circumstances. I cringe at the thought, in my harried state, of only sighing with entitled relief as my GPS changed, instead of experiencing a sweet moment with God. Friend, God is very near to us today, let us not forget to be near to Him.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord, thank you for sweet reminders of your presence. Let me slow down today, and draw near to you. You deserve all praise and glory every day. Let me pray instead of being anxious. In whatever this day may bring, let me turn to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.