Tension at the Wheel

When I was driving home the other night, the fog set in. Then it got thicker. High beams then low beams, trying to choose the optimum illumination to see where I was going. Is there a vehicle in front of me? I cannot tell. I tense up, grip the steering wheel tighter, and try to concentrate on staying in the road. Dense fog gives me an eerie, somewhat depressing feeling of not knowing where I am or what lies ahead. When I cannot see clearly, I can feel my heart beat faster.

Seeking God’s Protection

I am afraid! I seek God’s help, “Dear Lord, I cannot see so please guide my steering wheel and protect me from harm.” Would I have sincerely talked with God at this moment if the fog was not present? Probably not…foggy nights tend to produce deeper faith. It is the times when our faith hits “patchy fog” when we seek God’s comfort. Jesus offers us reassurance in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you; I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

We are well aware of the global pandemic threatening our health and daily lives the last few weeks. We are forced to change our lifestyle and where we go, how we have to act. Yes indeed, we are caught between cautious wisdom and anxious fear. Jesus tells us in this verse, I give peace right in the midst of trouble, right in the midst of distress and turmoil and heartache and pressure. I can impart peace to your heart right there, and not as the world gives. Why? Because we can return to that basic relationship we have–You in Me, and I in you.

Finding Solace in the “Fog”

Out of that comes the guarantee that He is working out His purposes. He will bring us to the end of the trouble. Just like driving in dense fog, we cannot see what trouble lies ahead. Sooner or later this fog will lift, and we will once again not feel threatened. Give this some thought; Do you talk with God more when you are afraid? Do you apply more of your time with loved ones in threatening times? Are you showing more love now to those in need? We are brought closer to God when the fog in our lives gets thicker.

Maybe during this trying time, more people will see a need to place their trust in the Lord. It just could be this is a chance to open the doors of Christianity to those that do not know the love and promise given to them through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe this is a time when we can find new ways to serve and praise our God. As this fog gets thicker, let’s use this fear to put our trust in the Son, the Son that will clear the fog away; Jesus Christ.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,” Romans 15:13, Amen.