Nighttime driving. Country road. Unfamiliar area. A place to be. Oncoming storm. No Signal.
That sinking feeling. Not sure where to go, not sure what direction is next, not sure when the storm will hit, not sure why there’s no signal.
How can my GPS work if there is no signal? It can’t.
There’s three things on my mind…
One, I do not really know where I am going.
I am so used of depending upon my GPS, I failed to even look at the entire route. I know where I started but do not know where I am going. I generally know but it is going to take some work. In one sense, I’m in a fog feeling nearly lost. I know the end of the trip but do not know all the turns along the way.
Two, I am concerned about the oncoming storm.
Over the past minutes before losing signal, several watches and warnings popped up on the phone. A major system is moving west to east. I’m sure the system continues to blow my way; however, I do not know where I am at in terms of locations. Who knows how bad the storm will actually be? How long will the storm last? Further, what dangers does the storm hold?
Three, I have no idea why there is no signal.
How is it that the one place I’m driving in an unfamiliar country area does not have signal? Of course this should not surprise me. I’m in and out of areas all the time where there is no signal. But on this day, since I need it so badly, I’m somewhere near sinful frustration because I didn’t prepare well enough beforehand and I need the signal. Limited visibility because of it being night makes it hard to see any of the landmarks that might make this easier. I’m just hoping the next hill provides me some kind of phone service.
How often does this happen in normal life spiritually as well?
As I was driving, I thought about how this happens too in normal living. There are many days where the storms brew on the horizon. Pressured circumstances make it such that we are in an unfamiliar territory. Yes, we know where we are going – eventually – but do not know the next turn or two to get there. We may in fact feel lost as we get disconnected from our spiritual signal. Our GPS fails to work because we have can’t find the right signal for it.
The Resolution and Safety
My story ended fine. I eventually got away from the hill which was blocking the signal and everything worked again. I drove away from the storm toward my destination on unfamiliar roads until I found the one often traveled. From that point, even though there was still danger in the storm, everything else felt more normal. GPS working, sense of direction restored, and a much more restful spirit.
How about spiritually? The issue spiritually functions differently than the story I just told. The problem with me on the physical road stemmed from a lack of signal. The problem spiritually never begins with the signal. Essentially, our ultimate signal is the power and work of the Holy Spirit. When I seemed lost and out of touch spiritually, the problem starts with me. I put myself in a situation where there is minimal hope of receiving the signal well.
What are those types of situations? Whenever I do not read my Bible and seek to apply it, nor go to church regularly, if I fail to pray, when I do not keep myself around Christian fellowship, when I have unconfessed sin, whenever I fail to forgive another person, and whenever I get angry at God.
Any one of these alone can make it hard to enjoy the Holy Spirit’s presence as we face storms, seek to navigate life, and hope to move forward down the road of life in a Christ-honoring, Christ-exalting way. The problem for us begins in us so that we fail to receive the signal well. Without staying sensitive to the Spirit and walking with our Savior, we place ourselves in a very tough situation.
The Way Back
The only way back to safety and toward joy is through receiving the ministry of the Spirit in our lives – which means we need to make some first moves toward repentance and change.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah (Psalm 46:1-3)
1 Those who go to God Most High for safety
will be protected by the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety and protection.
You are my God and I trust you.” (Psalm 91:1-2)
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
