The Unexpected

Part 1: When the Road Ends

One beautiful spring day during college my dear friend and I were driving with the windows down and laughing without a care in the world. Suddenly we both screamed as we lunged forward from a swift test of the braking system as the road suddenly ended. Yes, you read that right. The road was no more and in its place was a very large billboard. It took us a moment to collect our bearings as we were confused and shocked. (Neither of us had given birth at this point or else incontinence may have been one of those initial reactions.) Eventually we realized this wasn't the road were going to be traveling anymore and re-routed.

This is a funny memory we still laugh about. Unfortunately in reality there are times in our life when the road suddenly ends and we can't laugh about it. We find ourselves unexpectedly re-routed. We are dazed and confused. Where do we go from here? We balk because our opinion wasn't solicited regarding this life altering change of course. Things were going pretty well....until they weren't. 

Sometimes our road ends in loss. The loss of a dream, a reputation, a relationship, finances, health, or someone we dearly love. Whatever it may be life is no longer the same. Things have come to a screeching halt. 

Despite how caught off guard we find ourselves, our Heavenly Father is not at all caught unaware. He sees all our yesterdays and all our tomorrows. He still CARES and he still CARRIES. We are NOT ALONE, despite what our feelings may tell us. 

I say all this because we recently had such a moment. It turned our world upside down. I just want you to know, we've walked this road, or better yet, we're still walking.  Likely we will even be re-routed again. Life isn't without suffering. It would take a long conversation to tell you all the ways the Lord cared for and carried us through this time. Dare I say, even blessed us?

Please don't misunderstand me. Do I wish things were different? Do I wish we didn't have to practically plan for the worse while praying for our heart's desire? Absolutely. But this is a fallen world. We will all encounter suffering of some form or another. 

Yet, we were still blessed, still cared for, still carried in so many ways. One such blessing is the people who surrounded us. So my question for you to ponder before next time is, Who's riding in your car when you hit the end of the road? When life is turned upside down, who grabs tight to your hand? I promise you, it matters.

Reflection

1. Think about a time in your life when things were turned upside down unexpectedly. Can you identify a way the Lord carried you through that time?
2. Who are the people you want surrounding you when suffering rears its ugly head?