Out of Nowhere

I was driving down the familiar country roads at dusk. My father sat next to me in the passenger seat; we had just wrapped up another busy day — school for me, then working with Dad at my parents’ ice cream store. Now we were headed home, glad to be done for the day.

I was 16 years old and, like many 16-year-olds, I was pretty sure that I was: a) invincible and b) able to handle any driving emergency that might arise. After all, I’d been driving for months now. I knew these roads and could probably travel them with my eyes closed. There was nothing I couldn’t handle.

As we left a brief stretch of woods and rounded a curve in the road, something came out of nowhere. I still can’t remember if I saw it first or felt it first. All I had were some very strong, very chaotic impressions: a shadowy blur to the left, a car-shaking impact, a scraping sound not unlike nails on a chalkboard. It took about 1/1000th of a second for me to realize that I wasn’t invincible and that I didn’t know how to handle driving emergencies. I slammed on the brakes, screamed, and started crying all at the same time. I maneuvered the car off the side of the road and found myself trembling and sobbing. I didn’t even really know what had happened; all I knew was that I was scared.

But Dad was there.

“It’s okay,” he said. “It was just a deer. A big one. It must have leaped off that hillside, ran into the side of the car and taken off again. But you’re okay, you’re fine. Take a deep breath. Then let’s keep going.”

The way only a parent can do, he assured me that everything was going to be okay. There would most likely be some damage to the car, and I might be shaken up for a while, but his calm voice, soothing words, and confident presence gave me the strength I needed to get back on the road and continue on our way.

These things happen. On quiet country roads, deer come out nowhere, hit cars, and are off and running the next second.

In this life, surprises and tragedies come out of nowhere, hit our lives with heart-shaking impact, and leave us trembling and scared on the side of the road. What happened? What do I do now? Am I going to be all right?

Thankfully, we have our Father — our Heavenly Daddy — right by our side. He calms us, steadies us, lets us know that He’s in control. His Word of truth and His sovereign plan reassure us that somehow, in some way, we’ll get through this. And with His help and strength, we can find a way to get back on the road, to continue on our way.

I can look back through my life and point to a number of “out of nowhere” scares. The death of a loved one, a disheartening diagnosis, postpartum depression. Through it all, God has reminded me that we live in a fallen world and because we do, these things will happen. But the story doesn’t end there. Jesus tells us:

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
- John 16:33b

Dear Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you are forever by my side. When life turns upside down, when I’m afraid and uncertain, there is nothing I need more than your presence, your peace, and your sustenance. I praise you that you have already overcome this world! Thank you for your promise to never leave me.

For discussion: Have you been hit out of nowhere by life’s circumstances lately? How has God sustained you?