Don't be afraid; just believe

As we prepare for our overseas adventure, it is amazing to watch how God moves.  On Friday, we left the house at 8:30 to head to Farmington for our medical consultation.  (We have to meet with the doctor to discuss which shots to get in preparation for living in Indonesia.  The doctor has suggested the kids get the rabies vaccination, for example :-)) Well, we had a little snow here in Crownpoint, but the roads were clear.  Thirty miles away, a near blizzard was raging.  The conditions were getting worse as we drove down the road, until finally we could barely see a few car lengths in front of us.  (not that there were a lot of cars on the road-we were out in the middle of nowhere!)  As conditions became dangerous, where do we find ourselves, but near the one trading post and sole store for the next 50 miles.  We pull into the parking lot and ease up to the store.  We needed to call the doctor and say we were not going to make it.  As I walked in the store, I talk with a few fellow travelers that have taken shelter there.  "The road near Farmington is closed," an older man tells me.  Another comments on how the road is worse in just a few miles.  I ask the clerk if I can use the phone since our cell phone stopped getting a signal about twenty miles ago.  (that's normal for this section of the road...)  The lady kindly tells me the phone is for local or 800 number calls only.  (local calls in the middle of nowhere??)  As I leave the store, and older Navajo man points to a specific spot in the parking lot.  "If you wander around that area, you should pick up the signal." he says.  Sure enough it worked.  Erin was able to call the doctor and reschedule the appointment.  We turned around and headed for home. 

Now, from the world's perspective, our day was a waste.  But clearly God had other plans.  It seems like many of the steps we are taking are being attacked by spiritual forces.  Yet Christ is giving us a chance to simply trust him.  Trust me for your safety in bad weather; trust me to get a cell signal; trust me to use your day to accomplish my will.  Erin and I are starting to see how God is working in simple ways to teach us to trust him. 

Last night as I was reading Mark, I came to chapter 5, verse 36. Jairus has just been told his daughter has died.  What does Christ say at this critical moment?  "Don't be afraid ; just believe. " Simple words that are not always so easy to follow. 

We are so thankful that God is gently, but steadily preparing us to trust him more.  While not always easy, it the best thing to do.