He knows the way Home

The other night my YoungLife small group met and watched a Rob Bell video from 2001 together.  I had remembered watching some of his stuff back in the day but that's about it.  In this particular video, Rob describes a time where he took his baby son on a hike and held him in a "backpack" type carrier on his back.  As they were about to hit the half way point to turn back, it started to rain.  Rob turned and covered his son with a hood but did not see that his son had taken the hood off quickly after and was exposed to the storm.  It began to pour as well as thunder and lightening and the baby's whimper soon turned into a shrieking cry.  After a few moments, Rob took his son into his arms and held him close to his chest.  He whispered in his ear,"It's okay, I love you and I know the way" the rest of the hike.  After they made it back to the house, Rob says that although it may have scared his son to death, it was one of the most intimate moments he can remember having.  

This struck me so hard because I think of that poor baby screaming for bloody murder.  That storm was the only "reality" he knew at the time.  He did not know that everything was going to be okay and that his dad knew the way home, he only knew that the rain was pouring and he didn't like it.  

How many times do I scream out to God because my world is shaking all around me?  I find that it is in those moments I lean on Him most and in those dark times I am the most lost and pathetic.  I have no idea where I am going or when the rain will stop.  I simply fall on my knees to God.  I know I should do this even in the easy times and I have been learning and practicing such reliance, but I never realized that just as Rob Bell said the storm in the hike was an intimate time with his son, so are our storms an intimate time with God.  Think of it from the Father's perspective.  It is in those times we draw near to Him and He holds us close.  He knows the way even when we think the thunder and lightening will never stop.  He is constantly telling us "I love you, just trust me." I have never had a time that God did not pull me through the rain so why do I always crumble?  With this perspective, however, I rejoice in my crumbling because I rest in Gods tight grip and am being gently carried the rest of the way. If the baby hadn't screamed his dad would have never known he was afraid?  It was when he cried out to his father that he was taken out of the carrier and held in his arms.  So when the rain is pouring down and you can't see past the storm, just remember that everything is going to be okay because... He knows the way home.

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..." Isaiah 43:1-3


"Rain" by Rob Bell