Tunnels And Trust

 

bear

I truly believed I was on his private trail and wondered if anyone else had ever been in this situation!

After a long, memory-filled day rafting the North Fork of the Coeur d’ Alene River, we realized that there may not be enough light to navigate safely. The other rafters and their craft were beached and someone went on ahead to get a vehicle.

Being a glass ‘half full’ optimist I believed our destination was just beyond the next couple of turns. So I left my passengers and continued on … into a memory I hadn’t meant to create. Two turns became four, then five and by then the river was almost totally dark.

I made for the shore, deflated my raft and pulled it up out of the water. I could barely make out the vegetation and didn’t know how far the road was above me. Yet I had no choice.

I began climbing up the hill on hands and knees through a tunnel of dense bushes. Two thoughts began moving into my brain at the same time: (1) bear trails and (2) the pungent smell I had been inhaling! Although I was going as fast as I could, should I have heard breathing behind me I’m sure I could have tripled my speed!

I recall that experience of several years ago and can remember what that tunnel felt like. I wondered if any other human had ever taken that path. I had no idea of how long this journey was going to take. And I wondered if I’d get to the road I hoped was really above me.

Kind of like life. We travel through various tunnels – frightening medical diagnosis – potential financial failure – fractured relationships that collapsed beneath us. It’s sometimes difficult conceiving of others having faced what we’re facing. There is something about tunnels that produce a feeling of ‘alone-ness.’ We believe no one else has ever been in a tunnel like ours. No one knows the feeling.

Oh, but Someone does! Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus is with us and has already been where we feel so alone. He’s even been in the bear tunnel.

This week your journey may be in a comfortable sedan, gliding down the interstate at 80 miles an hour. But might be as you scratch your way over and around boulders climbing the highest and most frightening mountain in your memory. You may feel like you’re being swept toward a falls and no amount of rowing is preventing going over the edge.

Wherever your journey is at the present, remember … Someone has already gone ahead of you, knows the way, protects along the way and knows what awaits you at the end of the journey.

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you.

He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

 

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