Did you ever stop to think about the way God works in your
life? And have you ever considered the
fact that sometimes a delay or detour in life is simply God’s way of keeping
you from harm? Last month, my dad and I
arrived at La Guardia airport over two hours prior to our departure time. As I scanned our boarding pass at the
check-in kiosk, I received a message stating that we needed to see a Delta
agent in order to check in. We were
perplexed when the agent printed out tags for our luggage to be flown to
Washington, DC. Along with connections
in Washington and Atlanta, they quickly informed us that we were not to fly out
until the following day. Our direct
flight to Jacksonville had been cancelled along with countless other departures
and arrivals due to gridlock and inclement weather. We were not going home tonight. We were stranded in New York.
Because of the cancellations, all hotel rooms in the
vicinity of the airport were booked solid.
We found a metal bench in the Baggage Claim area. We had gone from taking a stroll in Central
Park earlier in the day and having lunch at Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse that
afternoon to sitting on a metal bench with our luggage in front of us like we
were homeless. Funny how things change,
isn’t it? Soon the jackhammers began to
sing. Every time sleep seemed possible, we
were reminded that we were sitting in an airport near a construction zone. Still, we were grateful to have a bench, as
many stranded passengers were not so fortunate, having to endure a long,
sleepless night on the floor.
The next morning, we boarded the plane, excited to finally
be heading home. As soon as we got
settled in, the pilot came on the intercom to inform us that the rear luggage door
was not closing properly. The next
announcement delivered news that the hinge pin was broken and we would have to
deplane. The substitute plane was en
route from North Carolina and would depart a couple of hours later. But even with the seemingly endless delays,
we knew that God had a perfect plan. I
prayed a silent prayer, thanking Him that the pin broke at the gate and not in
the air. Long before we even booked this
flight, He knew which plane would be safe.
As the song written by Joyce and Colbert Croft aptly says, the Lord is
always looking out for us.
From the moment our vacation began, God had His hand on
us. Our flight from Jacksonville to
Atlanta was delayed by three hours, but the connecting flight from Atlanta to
Boston was delayed four hours. On the
Freedom Trail in Boston, we heard a single shot fired near our location and an
ambulance arrived soon thereafter. From
our hotel room in New York, we heard several shots fired on more than one
occasion. But through every delay and
every danger lurking around the corner, God kept us safe from all harm. Every part of our journey revealed God’s love
for us, from the moments when we prayed for safety to the moments we were
awestruck by the beauty of God’s Creation that surrounded us.
From the beauty of Walden Pond near Waltham, Massachusetts
to the pastoral scenes of Prince Edward Island, Canada, it was evident that
God’s paintbrush had majestically graced these picturesque landscapes. I was captivated by the delightful views as
we walked across the bridge at the top of Montmorency Falls in Quebec,
Canada. Every aspect of our trip was
proof that God was piloting our ship, ensuring that we enjoyed the journey just
as much as the destinations themselves.
Of course, one destination proved to be extra special. We had the opportunity to return to the
Brooklyn Tabernacle in Brooklyn, New York.
The moment you enter the doors of this Tabernacle, something special
takes place. Goosebumps covered my arms
as I immediately felt the Spirit of God surround me in a warm embrace. What a sweet reminder of God’s love for me,
as well as a chance to reflect on this New England and Canada adventure that my
dad and I were blessed to enjoy together.
What about you? Do
delays seem to squelch your spirits, causing you to become impatient and
angry? Even amid the detours of life,
remember that one thing never changes.
That is the love that Jesus Christ has for you and me. No matter who you are, He loves you. No matter where you are, He loves you. As my dad and I stood overlooking Jordan
Pond, I was reminded how God can take a broken life and transform it into a beautiful
one. For you see, the surrounding
landscape does not share the same serenity of Jordan Pond. Cadillac Mountain and Thunder Hole in Acadia
National Park, while beautiful to photograph, are not hospitable terrains, full
of jagged rocks and boulders. Just like
God took time to create a gorgeous, peaceful pond in the midst of this rugged
landscape, He will take the time to soften your heart and bring peace to your
troubled soul. So the next time you
experience a delay, just remember that God knows more than you do. That detour may just be the Lord looking out
for you!
In Christ's Love,
Jennifer
