Closing the Gap

Izzy turned 15 and a half on September 11, of this year.  Half birthdays aren’t a big deal to most of us, but here in Arizona that means you are eligible to get your driver’s permit.  Yippee! (I say this with sarcasm and fear, while trembling in the fetal position.)

So apparently since Maddie took her permit test two years ago at the over-crowded government institution we fondly call MVD, things have changed. Oh, and this is weird, in Arizona we switch the letters around to MVD.Why? I’m not exactly sure. But anyway, the written test policy has changed. The test can now be taken online in the privacy of your own home, proctored by your favorite parent or guardian.

As soon as Izzy got home from school that day, she got out my lap top out and was ready to roll…..well not roll.  We’ll save that for the driving test.  (See what I did there?) I typed in all the important information, and raised my right hand that I would solemnly swear NOT to assist the sweet girl with the test.

But wait, what’s this?  A ginormous STOP sign appeared on the screen warning the almost new driver she can’t proceed with the test until she watches two short videos.  Ugh.  I knew what was coming. I remember vividly to this day watching a horrific film in Driver’s Ed (circa 1988) called, “Blood Runs Red on the Street.” Not even kidding.  How could you forget something that traumatic? 

I turned away while Izzy watched the videos, as if not seeing would help. You guys, it was tragic. Two stories about amazing high school kids involved in awful car accidents as a result of texting while driving.  One now living with paralysis, the other dead at the age of 18. His mom tells the story of her son’s tragic passing. I heard bits and pieces of the interviews, but enough of the story to never want that little girl sitting next to me to step foot in a driver’s seat. After the videos were over, I looked at Izzy. She had tears streaming down her face. She slammed the lap top shut and, with arms folded, said, “I don’t even want to drive after seeing that.”

I know that a glimmer of hope twinkled in my eyes for a brief second as I heard the fear and hesitation in her voice. But then reality smacked me in the face as I thought of the endless carpool line I drive through two times a day, five days a week at Izzy’s school.  I thought of the late-night pick-ups at her friends’ houses in my pajamas, where I pray no one will see me.

And then I thought about how she’s ready for this. She’s ready.

The disappointment, fear, and sadness on her face wrecked me. In four short minutes her excitement about getting her permit, and becoming a future driver, had been completely shattered in one fell swoop.

I thought about it. Actually, I thought about that moment for days after.  I thought about how quickly our emotions can change. How quickly joy can turn to sorrow. Confidence to brokenness.  Peace to anxiety. I thought about how we can walk strong in our faith, and then crisis sets in.  Suddenly we forget everything we know to be true about God.  We get stuck.  We linger in the bitterness. We forget all the amazing things God has done in our lives to that point.

But here’s the thing. It’s natural to have those responses to certain situations.  It’s human nature to go from one emotional extreme to another when pain hits deep.  My questions is how do we close the gap on the in-between time?  How do we shorten the length of time we spend wondering where God went, to remembering who He is and that He never left?

Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes. Fix your heart on the promises of God and you will be secure, feasting on his faithfulness.  Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life,and he will provide for you what you desire the most.  Give God the right to direct your life,and as you trust him along the way you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly! Psalm 37:3-5 TPT

I think the key to closing the gap in those times is knowing God. Knowing His ways. His character. His Word.

How can a young man stay pure?  Only by living in the word of God and walking in its truth.  I have longed for you with the passion of my heart; don’t let me stray from your directions!  I consider your prophecies to be my greatest treasure, and I memorize them and write them on my heart to keep me from committing sin’s treason against you. Psalm 119:9-11 TPT

I’ve sat on this story for a while.  I wanted to share it with you so many times, but I didn’t have THAT perfect scripture to articulate what I wanted to say to you. There are many scriptures and stories throughout the Bible that speak to this very topic, but I was looking for THE one or two.  And then while sitting in church Sunday, our pastor quoted Psalm 37:3-5, and that was it. The story came together.

Friends, God is with those who choose to follow Him. He never leaves us. He is there in crisis. He is there in celebration. He is there during online tests, and He’ll be there when our baby girls’ drive away for the first time on their own.  Take time to study this All Knowing, All Present, All Powerful God for yourself. And when the storms of life hit, because they will, be the one who closes the gap by standing firm in the truth that is written on your heart!

**TPT =  The Passion Translation of the Bible