No Fear of Twists and Turns When God is With You

When you travel on the back of a motorcycle, you get a much clearer view of your surroundings. We’ve been over mountains, through tunnels, around bends and beyond borders. We’ve seen wild animals, up close, and we’ve had some near misses. Danny’s favorite trips involve hairpin curves, unknown roads and wide open scenery. My favorite trips involve moderate speed and tree lined valleys. 

I was talking with another couple who have traveled as well on their motorcycle. She rides her own. As we were sharing stories of our trips she began to talk about the worst road she’d ever encountered. She said that as they planned their trip, one of her other friends cautioned her. “Whatever you do don’t take that highway.” Imagine my friend’s horror when she did in fact find herself driving on that very road. Although they were in a group, she had to ride through it herself. High mountain vistas with no barricades on the turns, above the tree line, made for sheer horror. She said it was all she could do to get through it.

Just like riding a motorcycle through the Rockies or the Appalachians, you and I are bound to encounter treacherous turns that seem to have no end. We want to avoid the hard places. We don’t want to go through anything that takes us beyond our own abilities. We may start out in a group, but they can’t go the distance with us. Well-meaning though they may be, companions will caution you not to travel that way. “Keep it safe” they’ll say. They don’t want you to go through hard times and they’ll say you don’t have to. They may want to have fun and stay in the valleys or even rock on the porch with you. But as soon as you begin the heights of affliction or rejection or turmoil they will leave you to go it alone.

Truth is we all have a road to travel. And if you travel this world long enough, you will encounter things beyond your natural abilities. You will be unsure if you can make it. You will not know if you can overcome the feelings of danger on the cliffs of life. But you don’t really have to go it alone, because God is with you. We’re never really alone. And we have an anchor for our souls and a pilot for our travels into the hardships of life. He’s with us in our turmoil, our afflictions and the summits of despair.

Oh beloved, it’s time to let God take over your travels. He has a plan and every step you make every mile you ride is going to end with His destination in mind. He wants ultimately for you to be so enveloped in Him that you no longer think independently. Awards await you as well. You will find out that you have become an overcomer as you continue to travel wherever He sends you. You will see that you are courageous as you hide yourself in His strength for the journey. You will know that you have become victorious as you travel in the light of His Word. You don’t have to have stamina or fortitude or your own set of masterful abilities to make it. You just have to rest in His truth and travel in His Spirit. You may appear weak in the flesh, but that’s when His true strength comes forth. You may be fearful in the flesh but that’s when His courage appears. Don’t let anyone talk you out of the heights of growth in Christ for it is just beyond the high places that the valley of comfort will appear. Keep on keeping on and keep on praising God as you wind
your way through this life headed for your ultimate journey's end in heaven.

Rejoice that you are traveling in the power of the Holy Spirit. Even though the road ahead, the days ahead, may find you traveling through treacherous territory, you are destined to make it all the way. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can keep going, knowing that you are traveling in the light of His purpose for you!

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Hebrews 11:32-34 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

I Corinthians 1:31 so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”

Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the Ride of Your Life!

I have always wanted to ride a scenic train. Hopefully this summer will be my opportunity. We have plans for just that. I know that this type of train travels on the edges of rivers, winds through mountains and dips into valleys. There will be a couple of tunnels to travel through and there are no lights in these tunnels. I will not be able to see outside the train car, but I’ll be safe inside where it is well lit and all our needs for comfort are met – drinks, bathrooms, soft seats and air conditioning. I’ll also have my wonderful husband by my side.

I don’t know if I’ve told you, but I’m not fond of heights, dips, cliffs, bridges, curves or the dark! Yet I am planning a trip that will take me through those exact situations. My fears of those things are overcome by my desire to enjoy the ride!  I won’t be riding alone anyway, even when I’m afraid my husband never is and he will hold me close and remind me that it’s safe.  I might get scared from time to time but it will be okay because the trip will be outstanding and the scenery will be breathtaking!

We don’t always get to choose our trip. There will be hard times. We must go through them just like I will have to go through the tunnels. Life’s twists and turns can be rough. We don’t know how we can hold on. We want off the ride and back on terra firma – safe ground.  But regardless of the dangers ahead, we are meant to dwell in joy! The train cars of life are full of His care and comfort – we can abide in joy and peace. Our conductor is no novice –for He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He knows what He’s doing.  Not only that, the one who sits with us and comforts us and whispers words of safety is our Lord and Savior!  Even when we are in the tunnels of life and we can see absolutely nothing or no one, the music playing in our head is the Word of God sung to us by the Holy Spirit, who is with us always.

Oh beloved, run to God’s Word for you are in for the ride of your life! The Word of God is your ticket to heaven, but it’s also your seating assignment, your boarding pass and your safety net! Read it all and take it in for you will be refreshed in hard times and strengthened in weak moments. When you cannot see anything, the Word will increase your vision!  When you wish you were somewhere else the Word is your reminder that God is orchestrating your life for His glory and your best! You are blessed and highly favored for the King of your life not only gave you heaven, He has taken care of all your needs for this life as well! Keep your eyes on Jesus for He is the Conductor of your entire life – He will check your ticket and attend to all your needs and safety all the way. 

Psalm 112:6-8 Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered.  They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

Isaiah 25:9 In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God! We trusted in Him, and He saved us! This is the Lord, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation He brings!”

Isaiah 42:16 “I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them.  I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, And I will not leave them undone.” (New American Standard)

Proverbs 1:33 But all who listen to Me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.

How's Your Story Going?

We were reading a book, Caleb and I, the other night, and he picked the book from my hands and began reading it by himself.  He’d say a little something about a story for each page. Finally he closed the book and said The End.   Most fairy tales and homespun stories are told with the same lines at the end -  “And they lived happily ever after. The End.”

Life’s story has many twists and turns. There are dark days full of terror. There is love found and love lost. There is espionage and intrigue. There are happy days and joyful moments. There is much laughter as well as blinding tears. The plot will thicken and every story contains a nemesis and things to overcome.

The Gospel Story is wonderful news for everyone. No matter what your background, who you know, where you’ve been or your past regrets- the Gospel fits. It is the only thing that spans the gap between us and heaven. No matter who you are or what you look like, it’s tailor made for you – it fits perfectly for everyone.   The Gospel is the incredible bridge between life and death which promises to take us home to be with our Savior forever. It is our happily ever after where the end is just the beginning.

But we have a story to live between the front and back covers of our lives.  For those who know the Lord, we have the Happy Ending sewn up. It’s a done deal – heaven is real and we are waiting for the moment we can step onto the soil of it’s magnificent realm. We will see our Jesus face to face. Whatever else we do, however else we are, we are going to love it! In the meantime, we’ve got to build our story and live our life.  Who is going to get us through and how are we going to survive? It’s a rough world and the twists and turns sometimes get harder and harder.

The Gospel is not just The End, it’s the prologue, it’s the highlights, it’s the plot, it’s the main character and it’s the way we get through! The Gospel is our ticket to heaven but it’s also our reason to live! If God had only given us hope for heaven, it would be enough, but He’s done more for us than many of us realize. He has given us a ticket for the train ride of life as well. 

Oh beloved, God wants you to know this morning that He understands your story. He knows when it’s been hard to resist temptation, He knows when you’ve heard His voice but followed another. He knows  when your weaknesses outweighed His plan for you. He knows the twists and turns and hopes and dreams that you hold in the deepest recesses of your heart. But there’s nothing to fear, for each day the story unfolds of your life with a fresh start! Yesterday doesn’t matter, but Today is a new chapter! Today you can live a higher plane, resist the lower life and become a daring hero or heroine for Him.

Run to His Word this morning, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and read – His Word is your guide, His Gospel is your plot, and The entire Bible is your guideline.  Everything you need for your life, your troubles, your story is found there. Let the Lord write your story and let Him fill your pages with His blessings and glory and honor. For He loves you so much that He made a way for your story to turn out oh so very good because He will be with you until the very End where you and He live happily ever after!

Psalm 48:14 For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death. (NAS)

Psalm 73:24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.  

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

Psalm 32:8 The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Psalm 143:8 Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.