Through Death Valley
Growing Daily
Through Death Valley
A couple of years ago, my son and I were on a road trip that took us through Death Valley in the heat of summer.
It was already 100 degrees out, but as we descended into the valley, the outside temperature gauge on our dashboard started climbing. 104… 105… 106… An edge of fear began to creep in. What if the car broke down? There was no cell service, and hardly another vehicle in sight. 109… 110… 111…
Oddly enough, inside the car we were perfectly fine. The A/C kept us comfortable even while the inferno outside was unbearable. But my eyes remained fixed on the numbers climbing higher, and my anxiety rose with them. 115… 116… 117…
Sometimes this same dynamic plays out in our spiritual lives. Trusting God doesn’t mean ignoring real dangers. But we can become so focused on what might go wrong that we lose sight of how God is caring for us right now.
Isaiah 41:10 says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you... I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
When the road finally began to climb out of the valley, the temperature dropped… and so did my fear. I suddenly realized how much energy I had wasted worrying instead of trusting.
What “rising numbers” are you staring at today? Can you rest in the assurance of God’s presence?
- Ron Reid