2019 Prayer and Fasting, Day 11

I don't consider myself an aggressive driver. In fact, I have had numerous days and seasons where I will refuse to go above the speed limit, simply because I don't want to. Simply because I know that there is a direct correlation between speeding (and simply driving faster) and stress. The faster you go, the more slow vehicles you have to pass, and also negotiating and navigating who to pass and when, as well as when to negotiate moving over so someone else driving faster may pass. But, the slower you go, the fewer vehicles you have to pass, and you're more likely to be able to cruise at the speed you're going and enjoy the drive all the while. That sounds pretty relaxing to me!

One thing I do though is -- and I know a lot of people are like me in this regard -- when I gotta get somewhere, I do drive faster. Most of all, I simply hate what I think of as obstacles on the road: slower drivers, a parade of slower drivers, red lights, a parade of red lights... you get the idea. (After all, my bet is you who is reading this right is now like me in this.) And what's weird is, oftentimes the bigger rush I'm in (and the fear of being late is actually bordering on reality), the more obstacles occur. I hate that probably more than most things in life. At least, I hate it more than most insignificant things in life.

The roads are where I have experienced Jesus a lot. Usually I think it has been in the annoying stuff (see the previous paragraph), and I have tended to think that in these times God is trying to get my attention about something. Sometimes it actually works. Usually, well, it doesn't.

Last night I almost got into what I believe would have been a horrendous crash on the expressway. (I wouldn't have been at fault, just so you know.) But God protected me. The funny thing is, I wasn't even super aware of it, just aware enough that I moved over half a lane (citing the "always leave yourself an out" guideline I learned back in driver's ed) in case the offending driver was going to be all-in on driving aggressively. I even had the radio on, listening to Chicago Cubs news. I looked up after I moved over half a lane, and the offending driver was not where I expected him/her to be. The driver actually decided for that moment to not drive aggressively. Either he or she must've understood the consequences of aggressive driving in this situation quickly enough, or the Holy Spirit supernaturally slowed down the offending vehicle, or both. What was funny was that the offending driver also stayed behind me for a while, maybe only finally passing me a mile or so later.

My response was also significant. I went immediately to thanking God for protecting me, and drawing a line (in Jesus' name) against any thoughts of fear around "but it could've happened!" A few years back I had a couple of close calls with semis, in one case I had made the right decision to run the yellow light instead of hitting the brakes (the truck was right behind me and also going full steam), the other where a truck behind me in my lane had lost its brakes, cut into the lane next to me (which was open) and blared the horn while he ran through the intersection (I was stopped at a red light). In both cases, it took me a while to calm down, because of what almost happened but didn't. Not this time. I haven't had that thought come up since.

There is so much more I could share about my experiences with Jesus while on the road. But those will be for another post. I will close this post with a passage from Exodus 33:19-23 (New International Version)

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

It was one of the passages of focus from my church's message last Sunday, about experiencing God Himself but in the traces. No one has seen God's face -- for no one can; His glory is too great -- but, in this exchange between God and Moses (whom He was talking to in the above passage), the relationship between the two is so close and so tight that Moses is bold enough to ask what most wouldn't even think of, which is to see His face.

When I think of myself in terms of seeing or experiencing God, last night was a fresh reminder of that. I didn't see Him, but I knew He was there. Or at least behind making sure my car didn't get struck. The point is, my experience on the roads has so often been me yelling and complaining at God for the red lights or the slow traffic. (He has been working on me on this. I believe He will continue to do so.) Even realizing that I might have an angel (or several angels) protecting me sometimes helps my attitude, but other times doesn't. Times like last night snapped my attitude back into a more proper perspective. Sometimes it is the case that God is intentionally trying to slow me down on the roads. Sometimes, He will also use moments like the almost-crash to remind me that, yes, I do need His protection while driving, even if I don't ask for it. Either way, it's for my good.