It was March of 2016 and big, fat, wet snowflakes fell from the sky in a steady cadence. I stared out the window and wondered how the weather would affect our flights to Africa the next day. Knowing full well how the airport was accustomed to handling winter mixes, I still managed to continue internally wrestling with questions. They rolled around in my head one after the other regarding what the potential future may hold for our travel itinerary. I also had to chuckle if the Africans we would be meeting in Cameroon had any concept of how snow could ground our transportation and travel to them.
I cannot pretend to know how or why God ordains things to happen and occur as they do. Likewise, I considered how I could not help but be filled with praise over the falling snow. It allowed us to be grounded stateside for a bit longer and I personally needed this allow additional time to bolster and grow my confidence. This was my first time to travel to Africa. These unexpected days of respite would truly be a gift for bolstering my courage in embarking on this trip and leaving my family.
God’s Protection
As praise and thankfulness flowed from my heart, I took pause over all that God was sovereign over and how He was providing protection for us. I considered how:
- We received notice that our flight had been canceled before venturing onto the interstate to the airport.
- Due to rescheduled flights being two days later, it allowed more time for things in Europe to calm from the tragic Brussels bombing. Since we were traveling with a group to Africa, and some in our group had a leg of the trip going through Brussels, this was a huge praise of protection and provision.
- On a more personal note, this grounded time stateside allowed our oldest daughter, who would be accompanying me, time to heal and mend from being sick. She had received a doctor’s clearance to remain a part of the trip, and we were praising how she was fever-free and on the mend.
God Growing Me
Ultimately, I was praising God for the myriad of ways He had made His Presence known in our lives. He had answered the cry of my heart from 2 Timothy 1:7. He was coming alongside my timidity and displaying His tender care, as well as filling me with His spirit of power vs timidity. As I continued to cling to Him, He blessed me with His comfort and faith to continue moving forward in His strength. He was encouraging me to boldly trust Him and to continue bringing all matters of concern in my heart to Him in prayer.
Prayers for peace were being lifted high.
In His grace and tender care of this timid child, He grounded our trip to offer protection. He grounded our trip to work in my heart and fill me with His peace. He worked all things for the glory of His good, as He personally made Himself known to me; even when He didn’t have to.
For this I am grateful. For His work within me, I am full of praise.
Praise that, with this respite of time, I felt His Presence, His protection, His Sovereign control, and how He truly walks with us. In His strength, I was ready to go forward. May His glorious purpose prevail and may He alone be praised for the ways He uses each of His children, the broken vessels that we are, to carry out His truth and purpose.
Are you aware, present, and ready to move forward in the purpose He has for you?
Yet Deeper Still 