Stuck on the Interstate at a dead stop!

Yesterday, I was on my way to a drawing class when I got stuck in traffic on the interstate. What a pain! I almost panicked! We sat still in total gridlock for fifteen minutes, and all the time my head was chanting:

I have to get going.

I can’t be late!

I am the teacher,

for goodness sake!

 Don’t laugh! I’m sure you’ve all been there … impeded in traffic because of a wreck up ahead or because of what seems like never ending road construction. Sometimes, I think a delay is the end of the world, and I wonder why the Lord lets this happen—He knows I’m in a hurry.

And then … AND THEN … I remembered something I said just before leaving the house. I think my exact words were, “Lord, please protect me as I travel.”

Suddenly, while I sat there beating an impatient hand on the steering wheel … it hit me … The Lord might be protecting me while I’m here “resting” in the middle of the road. If I had been fifteen minutes further along on my journey, I could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time and might have been involved in an accident. So…..instead of moaning because the Lord was making me late for my class, I decided to thank Him; for saving me from possible disaster, for protecting me from harm, and for answering my prayer. And you know what? I was five minutes late for my class, but my heart was full … because no matter how impatient I feel, facing those irritating situations that God allows into my life, He still knows what’s best for me, and He’s looking out for me.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thess 5:18