I can still distinctly remember one drive home (Fresno) from college (UC Irvine) for Christmas. I left Southern California in sun. As I approached the bottom of the Ridge Route, the rain started. By the time I reached the summit, it was snowing. I made it safely to the other side only to hit horrific winds at the bottom of the grade near Arvin. Not to be left out, thick tule fog settled in around Bakersfield and accompanied me all the way home. Needless to say, I was tired by the time that five-hour plus journey was over.
I was reminded of that drive last week as I was coming back from Utah on I-80. The drive started pleasant enough, and I made it to the Nevada border without incident. However, Nevada had other ideas. The winds picked up, gusting at times to 50 mph or more. I was hanging on tightly and watching the semis ahead of me sway across the lanes.
Next came the tumbleweeds. Thousands of them, rolling across the highway like grunion running on a beach. There was no avoiding them, so I just held on tighter and prayed the big ones, the ones that still had their roots attached, wouldn’t hit me. The closer I got to Reno, the fewer the tumbleweeds, but the winds still gusted and now snow was falling. Or should I say swirling and sticking. And I still had to cross the mountains to get home.
Life is often like that, isn’t it? Our day, week, year starts out pleasant enough and then a little foul weather appears. We hang on, hoping it won’t last long and we can just ride it out. But sometimes it just gets worse, not better. What to do?
In this day and age, technology via a weather app helps us see into our future. For me, a week ago, this showed that the mountain roads were clear though clouds still loomed and there was a possibility of a few inches of snow. All doable in my all-wheel drive. I just hoped the app was accurate. After all, weather apps and -men have been known to get it wrong.
But life doesn’t have a weather app . . . or does it?
The Bible is full of verses reminding us that God will see us through the “storms” of our life.
Sometimes, He stills them, causing them to cease completely: “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed” (Psalm 107: 29).
Sometimes he provides us a safe place to wait it out: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him” (Nahum 1:7).
But always, especially when we have to weather it, he promises to be right there with us: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
While weather broadcasters cannot fully predict what might lie ahead, neither can we know what is around the corner. However, our God does, and our app, the Bible, can provide peace and calm. And neither is ever wrong.
I was reminded of that drive last week as I was coming back from Utah on I-80. The drive started pleasant enough, and I made it to the Nevada border without incident. However, Nevada had other ideas. The winds picked up, gusting at times to 50 mph or more. I was hanging on tightly and watching the semis ahead of me sway across the lanes.
Next came the tumbleweeds. Thousands of them, rolling across the highway like grunion running on a beach. There was no avoiding them, so I just held on tighter and prayed the big ones, the ones that still had their roots attached, wouldn’t hit me. The closer I got to Reno, the fewer the tumbleweeds, but the winds still gusted and now snow was falling. Or should I say swirling and sticking. And I still had to cross the mountains to get home.
Life is often like that, isn’t it? Our day, week, year starts out pleasant enough and then a little foul weather appears. We hang on, hoping it won’t last long and we can just ride it out. But sometimes it just gets worse, not better. What to do?
In this day and age, technology via a weather app helps us see into our future. For me, a week ago, this showed that the mountain roads were clear though clouds still loomed and there was a possibility of a few inches of snow. All doable in my all-wheel drive. I just hoped the app was accurate. After all, weather apps and -men have been known to get it wrong.
But life doesn’t have a weather app . . . or does it?
The Bible is full of verses reminding us that God will see us through the “storms” of our life.
Sometimes, He stills them, causing them to cease completely: “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed” (Psalm 107: 29).
Sometimes he provides us a safe place to wait it out: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him” (Nahum 1:7).
But always, especially when we have to weather it, he promises to be right there with us: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
While weather broadcasters cannot fully predict what might lie ahead, neither can we know what is around the corner. However, our God does, and our app, the Bible, can provide peace and calm. And neither is ever wrong.
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