If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 22:33-34

This past weekend my family and I traveled to Pennsylvania to spend a bit of time with extended family.  Because of Katelyn’s recent hospitalization, surgery and recovery, we had intentionally stayed home over Christmas.  She is doing remarkably better, so we thought we’d slip up to PA to catch up with loved ones we had missed connecting with over the holidays.  

On Saturday evening my father-in-law took our whole clan out to eat at a nice restaurant. We had a great time eating, laughing and sharing life together- three families around a giant table loaded with food.  Great memories! When we emerged from the restaurant we found that a thick fog had settled over the area.  All of our vehicles caravanned carefully over curvy two lane backroads all the way to my in-laws house.  While we were negotiating one particularly treacherous curve, my youngest son Justin asked, “What will we do if it’s still foggy when we drive back to Virginia tomorrow?”  I quickly dismissed him with, “Oh, I doubt there’s a 189 mile fog cloud between here and Virginia; and besides, fog always lifts in the afternoon.” What a silly question, I thought.

But Justin was right.  After attending church together as a family, we ate a quick lunch and then headed home so the kids could get home in time to participate in Sunday night youth group at GLCC. As we got on I-95 south of Philadelphia traffic slowed as a thick bank of fog enveloped the highway.  A beaded row of red taillights glowed in front of us in the misty air.  We definitely would not be traveling at 70 miles an hour through this!  At some point in Delaware we passed an electronic sign that flashed: 

FOG

LIMITED VISIBILITY

PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY

No kidding.

I thought a lot about fog on the way home.  The kids were listening to a book on tape in the back of the minivan and Pam rested her eyes for a brief time.  A cream colored Audi that had spun off onto the muddy median and the endless procession of taillights kept me focused on driving. Fog.  Lots of fog.

Have you ever encountered fog in your life?  Not the literal kind, mind you; but a situation or circumstance that obscures the path, slows you down or even appears to block your way?  I know many in our congregation right now are facing tough circumstances and feel a bit like they are in a fog- career & financial decisions, care of elderly parents, difficulties with children in school, poor health, infertility, marriage conflict, depression.  When the fog rolls in we often experience frustration and confusion.  Some people drive recklessly in the fog, traveling faster than conditions allow and end up in a ditch or worse yet, in the back of someone’s bumper.  They crash because they become impatient and are unwilling to slow down and give attention to the conditions around them.  Other people experience a kind of paralysis in the fog.  They seem unable to make a decision unless there is clarity. They grind to a standstill in the middle of the road, creating problems for themselves and everyone around them as they wait for the fog to lift.  As I drove in the fog on Sunday, I had to remind myself that a road did exist; I-95 was still there stretching out in front of me and was a sure path to my destination, I just couldn’t see it at the moment.  I wasn’t lost, there was no need to stop; I just had to be careful and stay on the road.

Scripture is filled with wisdom for those who travel in the fog; and this Psalm (above) is one of the best.  When faced with indecision or an unclear path we don’t need to rely on  our own strength.  We have a sure guide, the Lord who delights in us.  Just because we can’t see the next step doesn’t mean that it doesnt exist or that we are off the path and lost.  We can take the next step even if we are unsure because the Lord is holding our hand.  And if we get off track and stumble, his presence and power are there to catch us and keep us from falling.  Walking in moment by moment dependence on Jesus is the best way to move forward in the fog.

Interestingly enough, the fog never really did lift on our trip home from Pennsylvania. We traveled the whole distance, 189 miles, in the fog.  And, I arrived home safely! I wished it would have lifted, but it wasn’t essential for me to reach my destination or to travel safely.  

I hope the fog lifts for you, but even if it doesn’t; you too can move forward through the fog with your Sure Guide.  Don’t race ahead.  Don’t grind to a stop. Just carefully follow.