Often things aren’t as they seem and Holy Spirit wants us to see more fully. I call it prophetic. I knew there was prophetic significance as the circumstances unfolded. I didn’t miss it. Thank you Jesus!
We were headed out for a huge day of bird watching. We wanted to get an early start and we were ready to leave when my husband said he had checked the oil and it was low, so we needed to stop and pick more up on the way out of town. We delayed our departure to arrive at the shop as it opened.
We were excited as we pulled up to the car parts store. My son was seated in front with Dad. We had a day’s worth of snacks, sandwiches, drinks, layers for weather and our binoculars and camera. We were headed south to see Sandhill Cranes and my son added other stops to the loop to see other rare birds in the area.
My son and I sat in the car as my husband filled the oil in the parking lot. Then we watched him head back in the store and bring the fellow out that was behind the counter. Next, sitting in the car, we both heard the declaration, “You have a problem,” trumpeted with authority to my husband, with both men still peering under the hood. More muted discussion continued, but in that moment my son looked back at me in panic. I could see it all wash over his face, no trip, disappointment, despair. More discussion revealed, “No, it is not safe to drive, you won’t make it to your preferred car repair twenty minutes east. You need to take it around the corner to the gas station we recommend.” It all whirled; serious, doom, major, problem. My husband lowered the hood and rejoined us. All was quiet. The only words I had spoken to my son were, “Pray. Just pray.”
We pulled into the nearby gas station. Thoughts squelched with hope and faith – cost, serious repair, no car for awhile, how to get home with all our gear. I kept side stepping the immensity and praying, kept praying. Thank you Lord, your way, your plan. You are good. You are bigger. Thank you Lord.
A fellow followed my husband out of the shop and looked under the hood. Immediately we heard my husband exclaim, “I feel like such an idiot”. My son and I breathed. We felt the doom, darkness, heaviness all lift and felt light, free, peace. In a moment everything changed. We were back on track. Another fellow arrived from the garage and mumbled as well. All three looking under the hood, punching the stick in the oil canister (yea – I know nothing about cars!), pulling out the stick, looking, wiping, looking and filling. Hood down, thanks exchanged and my husband was back in the car. Wow! What just happened?
The report was that the light was bad at the other shop and a reflection made it look like the oil was over full and yet the stick was showing it needed oil indicating a major problem. Then, in different light, all was clearly ok. Apparently there is a film of oil (reflecting the light) that is over a cover that the oil flows around and into the canister. So then the mechanic proceeded to rave, yes rave, about our minivan. He has two and his words, “If you take care of them, they’ll last forever.” Wow! So we drove off on our 515 mile, 13 hour birding adventure.
Immediately I declared, “This is prophetic!” Most everything seems to be to me! I could see the perspective, circumstances look awful and the opinions of the kind store employee confirming the very worst. But revelation came when we changed our perspective, and the light revealed the truth and the knowledge of the mechanic and his positive declarations over our aged van shifted our focus.
And the key, pray! We didn’t agree, complain, lament, worry, fear, give any words to the circumstances. We were quiet. We prayed. And God gave us an incredible day.
Later we saw and heard the cranes, thousands of them on the ground and flying. The weather and drive were perfect. My son spotted a rare gull through boats docked on a pier and we were able to get a picture and even see the giant fly. This was an incredible blessing and display of magnificent favor. My son also spotted a road runner cross the road in front of us. We watched the bird in an area we would have never located it had we not seen it scurry across the road. And we got more pictures.
But most of all we spent the incredible day together. Together for 13 hours, my family, loving and enjoying each other. It was a perfect day. So again Lord you showed me your truth. The circumstances lie. Your perspective is different than the world’s. Believe. Keep my eyes on you. Trust. Stay calm. Rest. Agree with you. Choose prayer.
And as I related this story to a friend, she reminded me how great it is that my son gets to see this. I see lack and He sees you. You providing. You moving. You. Great, wonderful, loving you. And oh how my heart leapt as she reminded me how great this is for my son. The lessons he is learning. The godly man he is becoming. The depth of his knowing you and your ways, beyond book knowledge, experienced in living life. Thank you Lord. You are so big and beyond. Thank you. It was a Big Day.
Excerpt from Loving and Faithful