The Passenger

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were on our way out of town for a couple of days. Just a short road trip to get away. We were on a major interstate highway, he was driving and I was in the passenger seat. Conversation was light and casual. We enjoy each other’s company and talk about all kinds of things…from our future together, to the news of the day, to what we see on the road. Sometimes we don’t say anything at all and it’s quiet in the car. During these times, I look at the surroundings and watch the scenery go by. Sometimes I let my mind wander, never expecting the unexpected.

Whoaa! Are you crazy?

All of a sudden, my husband brakes, slowing us down very quickly, and pulls the car over to the right shoulder.
We had just passed a man walking on the side of the road. He stops the car, then puts it in reverse and slowly starts backing up.
My heart begins to pound.
As he is backing up he says, “we’re going to give this guy a ride.”
In my mind I’m thinking, What?? Are you crazy?! You don’t know who this guy is! He could be a murderer, or some lunatic…and you’re going to pick him up?? Do you realize you could be putting us in danger?! Especially ME! Because guess who he’s going to sit right behind. Talk about the unexpected!

I look over at my husband. Out loud I say, “Are you sure about this?” He very casually and calmly says, “yep.”

I don’t say anything as we slowly keep backing up until we reach him. I’m doing my best to hide the fear I’m feeling by acting like it’s no big deal. I look in my side mirror watching. My husband has rolled down the right rear window. The guy peers in, and my husband asks him if he needs a ride.
“Yeah, I do.”
He gets in...sure enough…
Right. Behind. Me.
We get going again…
And I wait.

He’s going to kill us

I wait for the arm to come reaching around my shoulders, pinning me to the seat, then the other hand holding a blade and slicing my throat from ear to ear. Or the gun, pressing its cold steel against my temple, forcing my husband to drive the car to some unknown, abandoned shed where he disposes our bodies and steals our belongings.

But none of this happens. The young man is polite. Says “yes sir”, and “no sir” and is very thankful for the ride. His truck had broken down a ways back and he only needs to go as far as a couple of exits where there is an RV park where he is staying, and he can make a phone call.

So we take him. He gets out, and we drive back to the highway. And that’s it.
Not a murderer, not a lunatic. Just a young man who needed help.

I never saw his truck…back on the road. My mind was wandering while we were driving and I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t see any vehicle broken down on the shoulder, so I didn’t make any connection. I never…saw the truck. My fears were unfounded because I didn’t see. But my husband did. He saw it, so he knew. He had no fear, and had full confidence. Nothing unexpected.
I know my husband. And I know he would never, ever, intentionally put me in harm’s way.

Everyone’s journey is different

Sometimes unexpected things happen in our lives that we are totally unprepared for. Our hearts begin to pound. Fear raises the blood pressure in our veins. Questions instantly begin to shoot straight to heaven…“Whoa! Why’d we stop God? I don’t understand. Why are we backing up? What’s going on?”
Are you crazy?! 
Do you realize you could be putting me in danger? 
Are you sure about this?

But the problem is, we haven’t been paying attention. We let our minds wander. Or, we were so focused on what was ahead of us, we failed to see what was going on right beside us or behind us. Or, our path needed a detour. So God slows us down or backs us up because He wanted to show us something.

Yes, it’s scary, unexpected change usually is. But life must be walked, trusting God…trusting that He sees everything, He sees you…and that He knows.
He knows.
And He would never, ever give His children over to evil.

Psalm 121:1-8

“I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right  hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

You’re not alone

I don’t know where you are in your journey…if something has happened that has caused you to question God’s sanity, or even His presence. But just know this, you are not alone. Never forget that there are others that have gone through what you are going through now. Find a church, and find your people. And know that God is here and He loves you. He always will.