The Dirt Road

Several years ago I was traveling with a group outside the US. It was near the end of our trip and this particular day we were traveling as we did quite frequently. We were in a few different vehicles basically caravanning to our next location. It was a normal day traveling abroad. The drive was only supposed to be a few hours but 4-5 hours into it we still weren’t at the location. It was a LONG day on the dirt road.

Everyone in the car (around 7 or 8 people) was doing normal road tripping things. Some were chatting, some were sleeping, others reading, etc. Then our car started to slow down. I remember looking up and seeing a ton of people in the road. We weren’t alarmed at that point, just confused as they were congregating around something we could not see.

After coming to almost a complete stop everyone in the car was awake at this point but quiet. More and more people started flooding the street. It felt like every time you looked there were more people. Our driver at one point got out of the car (he was a national) and started talking to some of the people. I have no idea what was being said, but I can guarantee they weren’t talking about the weather. Our driver got back into the car quickly and promptly locked his door. At that point, for me at least, the worry and panic began.

Right after that, we realized we could not see the car in front of us anymore. We were originally the 2^nd of 3 vehicles. We could not see either car. I was sitting next to the window. The people in the mass outside were knocking at our windows. I remember being told to lock the door about every 2 minutes or so. I won’t pretend to know their intent, but it definitely started to become scary.

I do not know how long passed. Maybe minutes. Maybe twenty. It felt like much longer. We (or me at least) was starting to be consumed with fear and panic. I don’t know what I thought was going to happen, but I also know that I didn’t want to find out.

Then with every ounce of courage and strength she could muster, my friend sitting next to me started singing. It was quiet at first. Quiet, but calm. She started singing “Mighty to Save.” Slowly, people started to join her. It was a nervous calm. The few that were singing then started to sing, “How Great is Our God.” About the beginning of the 2^nd verse everyone in the car, including myself, was singing. It wasn’t loud, but it was with passion and love.

The driver once again got out of the car and spoke with a man on a motorcycle. I’m not sure what was said, but the driver seemed confident this man would help us. The man on the motorcycle helped maneuver our car through the crowds and to safety. The entire time we kept singing. When we finished “Amazing Grace,” I looked up again and the man on the motorcycle was gone. We were happily reunited with the other vehicles.

In the immediate aftermath, I for one did not realize what actually happened. It was so surreal.
Almost to the second that all of us focused on God and not on the situation, a miracle guy delivered us from the crowd. The very second.

Life is like that sometimes. Okay, more than sometimes. Situations seem REALLY bad. Some are not even in my control and I focus on them and how I can fix them. When that happens, the situation usually escalates rather quickly. It is not hard to see how situations can get totally out of control.  However, if I focus on God and give him control, then he will guide and protect me.

I do not know what other dirt roads I will travel in my life. I have no idea what other trials I will go through, or what times of extreme joy I will have. But, what I learned from that dirt road was this….don’t focus on the problem. God will definitely challenge and stretch you, but he will never leave you there.

Don’t tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big your God is.

So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed. For I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

Keep on keeping on J