8 May | Youth
«No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.» 1 Corinthians 2:9
It was August, and we were returning home after a weekend in Florida. The heat was unbearable and so was the humidity in the air. I (Júlio) feared not only being too tired and driving at night; I feared the rain that threatened to fall. Near sunset the storm began. Visibility was extremely low. I slowed down but did not stop. In the passenger seat, my Spanish friend, previously distracted and drowsy, was now on the verge of having a fit. “It’s better to stop, don’t you think?”, he said to me apprehensively. For me, this was not the best decision on a slope, with low visibility and huge trucks traveling behind us at 80 km per hour, in the rain. Still, I got off the road and stopped. In the back seat were my wife and children. How long would that relentless rain last? There was no way to know.
A Spanish writer named Fernán Pérez de Oliva wrote: “Whoever is from Heaven, where else can he be well?” Was he right? It is strange to think that we were born in a place where we do not really belong, isn't it? My European friend had never seen a tropical storm. I had. He did not know what to expect. I, however, knew from experience. Even so, knowing what is happening does not take away the fear of what may come. The human heart is the only wild sea in the universe that stirs in spite of God. Therefore, the Lord “needs” your permission to calm it down. Faced with an uncertain future, it helps to know that God has not abandoned us to our own fate. Being a Christian means that we are from another world; and anyone from the heavenly homeland is no stranger to tropical rains. We pass through the valley of shadows without losing sight of the brightness of Heaven.
On that day in North Florida, God answered our distressed prayer. We got back on the road and continued on. It was still raining heavily. Only after some time did the water subside and visibility increased. Hours later, tired and tense, we arrived at our destination, safe and sound.
Dear reader, no matter what happens, trust; do not despair. Very soon, we will arrive home, and our Father will be waiting, with a smile, to welcome us. I am sure He will say, “Son, thank you for letting Me hold the steering wheel with you. Everything will be fine. The storm has passed.” I really want this day to come soon. And you?