When I woke up, the Holy spirit brought a memory to my mind. It was of the cross-country drive I took with mother and sister after I finished my PhD. That is a happy memory but it was also a stressful trip at times because mother got anxious and scared when we drove. 

I hadn’t made the drive before but I had every route planned out, down to the hotels, camping, and where to do laundry. Literally, every detail was planned and I had AAA coverage, insurance, etc. If I may say so myself, I’m actually a good planner and I wanted to show mother and sister a good time. How many people get to go on a drive across the US??

But mother got anxious and angry at points because she was worried as we made our way over. We passed bright cities but also long stretches of empty, desolated land. Yes, of course, some parts looked so lonely. 

But it was part of God’s creation and He sees it as beautiful, and I wanted my mom to enjoy it. Yes, of course, it seemed dangerous at some times (mother was afraid of bears at Yellowstone!). But everything was under control, and even if something happened, help would have been available.

My journey right now looks a long like that. There are long, desolate stretches in my journey but God is entirely in control, and He wants me to enjoy those parts too—because He is there! 

Life can seem precarious right now, but He wants me to enjoy the ride—because He has everything planned out!

My mom was anxious because she didn’t know what I had planned, and she didn’t know help was literally, just a call away.

I’m anxious now because I don’t know what God has planned, and I didn’t know help is literally, just a call away.

But my experiences last week, and yesterday too, showed me that every time I call, God answers. sometimes He takes a little while, but He always answers. So I need to sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey because God knows full well where I'm going.