Special License

I hung up the shirt I was going to try on at the store because my daughter asked me to come to her house. She was on the way to the doc's with a sick child and wanted me to let the other kids in after school. It is a pretty fair jaunt down some expressways to get there so I paid for one item and was on my way. My driving confidence has waned in my senior years so I was somewhat nervous about getting there at this particular time of day. What if I didn't get there in time? I had missed lunch and I was looking for a drive through for something quick to eat. I didn't want to get shaky.

The first thing that happened was - I should say the first thing that didn't happen were red lights. There were few to none. Once I got on the expressways I noticed that the traffic was fairly light just then. Just after I merged unto The Jeffries at Malfunction Junction I saw a car zooming along on the left. The license plate read: PHIL413. OH, "thinks me, "cool verse on license plate, should have been my plate ID," and "maybe that guy is a Christian."

I started to muse on the verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Then I thought how nice the traffic was so light. I wasn't feeling nervous. I was zooming along with the big guys instead of driving like a little ole lady in the right lane. I was hungry but not shaky. My memory cells kicked in with a message that there was a Mickey D's on the right just past the exit I would take off the expressway.

Then it hit me: GOD was strengthening me just then. He reminded me of His presence when I saw that verse. Thankfully, I didn't tear up (so I couldn't see) but I was filled with emotion as I realized and sensed God sitting there beside me right then and there. He was ahead of me clearing the way. He had been the traffic manager at the traffic lights turning them green. Even when I learned Philippians 4:13 many years ago God knew He would use that verse to make me strong just at that very moment in time. (He used it before and will use it again.) He had given me the calm when normally I would be nervous. When I got to the drive through there was no wait.

When I went inside my daughter's home I was still calm but still thrilled with the realization of God's obvious strength and presence. I ate my burger and drank my senior coffee before the kids burst through the door.

God is present and He is strong. He knows all about me and He provides richly beyond my hopes. Read Philippians 4:13 for yourself.