Your Provider Will Handle Your Situation

As I went to pick up Danny yesterday afternoon there was a wreck right before my eyes. The left lane had a line of cars stopped as someone was turning across traffic. Just as I drove by a small car rear ended one of those stopped cars. The mess was huge as I saw car parts fly off as though it was a toy. The front end of that car was demolished as it impacted the back of a pickup. I cringed at what I saw. I can’t be sure what happened but with the afternoon traffic always in a hurry to get home and the line of cars that was stopped it looked as though the small car’s drive had looked down or away for a moment. Just enough time to have a terrible impact on their day to say the least.

We all get in a hurry. Life is busy and we’re busy. We have things to do and places to go. We ask God’s blessing on our plans and then push things into high gear. Although we begin by watching carefully for God’s signal and stay alert for His guidance, we get busy. Then things get congested. We find we have lots of road hazards. One look away from the Savior and we have an impact we never wanted. Our faith gets derailed. Our hope gets demolished.  We were cruising along having a great time and yet we didn’t see the danger ahead that wants to impact our life in Christ. We get to thinking we’re king of the road when actually Christ is King of our entire life. Where we go, how we travel, who we see, even how we make a living and what we do with that living should be under His guidance. But we love to be in the driver’s seat.  

Then we find ourselves on the side of the road unable to move forward. We’re sidelined. It’s then that we have to know what to do so that we can get moving again.  We often pick up the phone and call our buddies, but they don’t have a wrecker big enough to pick up our mess. We survey the damage and discuss within our hearts what we’re going to have to do to get moving again. We plan and talk and discuss and fuss. But we’re still sidelined. The wreck’s impact has done its damage and we’re unable to move on.   

Until we talk to our Provider. When Jesus comes on the scene of the impact, our hearts are at peace again. His plan provides that we don’t ever have to take our eyes off Him, not for a moment. But He knows we’re going to have those lapses of the spirit where our mind plays a trick on us and we think we can handle it all ourselves. So miracles of miracles, He comes the moment we call on His Name. Even if we caused the accident ourselves, He will come to our aide. When others cause the collision He’s there to defend and protect us. When life throws things at us and we’re off the side of the road, He comes to our rescue.

Oh beloved, whatever situation you are in God is with you! You don’t have to figure this trouble out all by yourself. What looks like a demolition derby in your mind is actually another magnificent opportunity for God’s great love to come to your rescue. He gives second chances over and over again. These are teachable moments, sent into your life to remind you that He is the One who should do all the driving. And to remind you that you should never take your eyes off of Him. Wherever you need to be, He will get you there. He promises to guide you into all truth, into His will and into blessings and honor, glory and power when you let Him show you the way. The evidence may be clear that you messed up, you looked away, you got in an accident and someone’s to blame. But Jesus gathers you up when you call on His name.  You can learn not to take your eyes off Him and things will still happen but you will have peace because you have learned to look to Him for everything.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can call on Him whenever you find yourself in a wreck, whenever you can’t see the road ahead, whenever you’ve been impacted by sorrow, fear, regret, rejection, humiliation, sorrow, worry and more. No road hazard can keep you from receiving all you need from the Lord as you live in the light of His Word all the days of your life.

Psalm 103:11-14 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.  For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

Psalm 91:15 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

Psalm 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.

Psalm 107:19-22 Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.  He sent out His word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.  Let them praise the Lord for His great love and for the wonderful things He has done for them.  Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving     and sing joyfully about His glorious acts.

Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith….

Have You Had a Near Death Experience?

Danny does a lot of driving. Between the motorcycle trips and the work trips, he’s on the road a lot. A few days ago he was headed to Little Rock on I30 and had a near death experience. He had gone over a hill and was in the far left lane (of 3 lanes) when a large pickup came into traffic from the on ramp on the right. The driver proceeded to keep going until she was coming into the same lane as Danny. He had nowhere to go, so he jammed on the brakes. It sent his car careening and he went off on the shoulder and the car shuddered back into the highway. As she drove by she nonchalantly waved her hand as he was still trying to gain control of the situation.  She drove on, content with herself.

Thankfully God provided the way out and Danny was able to get the car under control and back onto the highway. He did pull off on the nearest exit and catch his breath to settle his nerves.  He was worn out and shook up - partly because he had to work so hard not to wreck but also because the driver of the truck was so uncaring.

Some of us are like the pickup driver.  We are intent on going where we want to go; we’ve decided what we want and how we’re going to get it. So we just don’t care what happens to anyone else.  We are truly an accident waiting to happen, but as long as we get our way and drive on, we don’t care.

Others of us are in Danny’s situation. We are driving along, having a good trip, enjoying the ride and viewing the blessings when out of nowhere along comes someone or something barreling toward us.  We have nowhere to go, the impact is imminent and the outcome is certain. 

If we are the pickup driver in life, we need to slow down and ask God to make us more aware of those around us. We need to ask Him to teach us to love like He loves and travel with grace in the traffic of life.  If we only look out for Number 1, we’ll cause accidents and leave people wounded and dying in the ditch.  Even if we only look ahead, wave them off and go on, there’s a payday someday.

If we're the one who's the victim of the careless driver, we have two things we can do.  We can become bitter, refuse to drive again and stay home, lick our wounds and complain about the culprit. Bitterness breeds bitterness.  Or we can call the wrecker service, God's Holy Spirit and ask Him to help us look beyond the incident.  We have to know that regardless of what the mess looks like, we too will have a payday someday.  Our rewards don't come from the hand of man, but rather from the heart of God. It's like Charles Spurgeon once said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages."

Oh beloved, God knows the near death experiences you’ve had. Someone has pronounced death to your marriage, your family, your job, your future, your ministry. They’ve driven into your lane and are intent on removing you from the roadway.  They’ve been careless with God’s love, God’s will and God’s Word. It’s a scene from a horror movie.

Except that the King of the Universe is your EMT.  He was on the scene before you got onto the highway. He was on the scene before the other vehicle entered the lane of your life. He’s staying on the scene with you for the rest of your days.

And if you will trust Him, He will take the hurtful wrecks of life and use them for His Glory and your good.  Never forget beloved that it’s not about you or the other person, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood. Just hang tightly to the Lord and let Him make provision for you. Your life is in His hands and that means your entire life. No one can swipe you out of God’s will because He loves you and He’s for you and it’s His will to keep you going and give you a life worth living for Him.

Isaiah 46:4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

1 Peter 2:15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.

Isaiah 50:7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do His will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.

Romans 8:28 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Romans 8:31 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.