Gas Crisis?

On Saturday, September 17, 2016 my husband and I journeyed toward Morganton, N.C. We were not 50 miles from home when I unfortunately read the news about “North Carolina’s gas crisis”. Gas crisis? At this point, I was ready to go home. From Morganton, we were planning on driving to Asheville for an event. I quickly figured the distance and realized there was no way a tank of gas would get me home.

As nicely as I could in my distraught condition, I asked my husband to please turn the car around and take me home. I told him that I did not want to be stranded in the western part of the state. And as nicely as he could, he told me we were not turning back, but were going to continue our trip forward.

Well, I’d like to say we had a wonderful ride from that moment until destination arrival, but I will not add lying to my list of egregious internal railings.

We arrived at our destination to visit with friends before heading on to our big event. I admit I struggled to keep my composure. Looking back I realize I was in severe emotional overdrive, overwrought, and overwhelmed.

Later that night, I went to the Lord in earnest prayer asking Him to do what only He could do—calm my soul and renew my spirit. I immediately felt tension flowing away as I drifted off to sleep.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” Luke 12:25

That was the verse I heard in my subconscious as I was waking up. Oh how foolish it is to worry about tomorrow since it accomplishes nothing. Well, nothing but a raging headache! I realize the gas problem could have stranded us for a few days, but instead of looking at it as an adventure of sorts, I let the uncertainty of the situation fester and bring up all the things at home I had to get back to and do.

Overnight God eased my tension. I do believe He needed me to get back focused on Him. He had a lot of surprises and too many blessings for me to miss. If I had started my second day like the first, I would have lost some incredible memories.

Stress can derail us.

What a beautiful lesson for me. When the unfortunate happens or plans seemed sabotaged, sit in wonder and expectation. Something’s up. It might be a negative situation. In that case, you buckle up and endure. But . . . it just might be the best thing ever! Some of God’s greatest gifts come in simple, unannounced, random ways.

What a life lesson for me. I want to remember this one forever. Do not worry. More importantly, I don’t want to miss God’s blessings. I can’t even think about the gifts unseen, unnoticed, or unaccepted on that first day of my high tension. It hurts to know I can never get them back. But I can make sure it doesn’t happens again. And I can promise you, worrying didn’t add one single hour to my life. To be truthful it took many hours away from my joy.

Next blog is God’s overflow of blessings.

Blessings,