On the way home from work one night, I had an intense encounter with hope and fear.
This trial and testing had begun with a horrible sound around my back right tire just as I was getting to work. Nervously, I asked one of the guys to take a look but he saw nothing of concern. So, I said, “Then I think it was slushy snow build-up in the wheel-well, clunking around.”
But for the evening, fear lurked just over my head, periodically interjecting his thoughts and torments. I did my best to ignore him and hold on to my one hope.
Finally, at the end of my shift, I started the ignition and sat for a moment with Father. I said, “Father, it’s You and me as usual. And I’m asking that my car is perfect, and my ride home is without any unusual incidents. You know my trust is completely on You, as always.”
After my little prayer and a deep, cleansing breath of peace, I slowly proceeded out of the parking lot and onto the road. A half-moon peeked out of the clouds along the desolate countryside. And I put on 2 pairs of gloves to handle the steering wheel in the 6-degree temps. Smatterings of sand sprinkled the snow packed icy roads and I felt like I was holding my breath as I headed for home.
Thoughts of a broken-down vehicle in the deserted cold, night were frightening floating across my imagination. Dangerous animals and even more dangerous humans crossed my mind accented by the fact that cell phone service sometimes cut out in the area.
Torment was doing a good job. But even as he worked his terrible magic, I also remembered Joyce Meyer had said years ago. “Do it afraid”. And the words had stuck with me, like a mantra. Every time I was up against fear and holding on to a slim thread of hope that Father would never let me down, I remembered those words.
Minutes seemed to take hours but finally, I pulled into my dry carport, safely. It was one more time in the millions of times, that He’d cared for me. He’d answered my request. I arrived home, warm and toasty without a single variation of an incident along the way. My wheels had not slipped on the ice, nor had the horrible sound come from the wheel-well. Not even an animal had darted out from the side of the road.
I was safe and overcome with thankfulness. Fear had played his hand and pulled the Torment card once again. But also, once again I “did it afraid” and Father kept His promise to never leave me or forsake me.
Fear comes sometimes. It taunts me sometimes with horrible unbelieving thoughts. But I know where they are coming from. And I know these are the moments of endurance where I hold on to one hope – HIM.
And it works. Every time.
me.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me. Blessings on yours.
Faith
