All packed and ready to go...

I have friends that had 2 free airline tickets anywhere. The only catch was they had to fly stand-by and did not know what flight they could get on. Can you imagine sitting in the airport, packed and ready to go and have no idea where you are going?

But then I realized that this situation is a lot like life. Not only because just like in life, airports have a Starbucks every 100 yards (thank you Jesus for good coffee). But also that we are all going somewhere, we just don’t always know where this life will take us. We have a general idea and desire for our lives and where we want to go. But the truth is, we control less than we think. We prepare ourselves as much as possible for our lives but are we really ever truly prepared for the things this broken world throws at us? Maybe we pack for the tropics only to end up in Colorado during ski season.

We have all had things happen in our lives that we didn’t plan for. Maybe you prepared yourself for the tropical paradise life and it has seemed more like the longest winter in the Rockies. Maybe the results to the health test weren’t what you expected or hoped for. Or your wayward child is in fact still wayward. Or the sudden death of a loved one. All things we didn’t plan for, nor expect we would have to walk through. The key is not just living through these things. But to live by God’s Grace through these things.

Isaiah 43 says “”do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze…since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you..”

The comfort comes from knowing the Comforter. Knowing He called you and me by name. And that He is with us even when the waters rise and it gets uncomfortable. Somehow embracing that the waters will come, but they will NOT sweep over us. Accepting that we will walk through fire, but we will NOT be set ablaze. That we are precious in His sight and we are loved.

Where ever we go today, know He is with us. He is for us and He will get us through it. We may not end up in the tropical paradise we envisioned but He will be with us where ever we go. And stop at Starbucks and grab yourself a grande caramel macchiato, you won’t regret it.

Daily Grace to you,