You never know when God is going to speak to you. Sometimes, you ask God to speak and it feels like he’s totally silent. Other times, He shows up at that exact moment when you weren’t even expecting Him to. But it’s the best surprise ever when it happens!

A few weeks ago, I was faced with a health scare that had me shaken…REALLY shaken. In the midst of my “storm” I was praying and doing my best to trust God through it all, but it felt like a daily battle to stand on the promises in His word that I’d be okay. Fear was trying to creep into my every waking moment from the minute I opened my eyes in the morning, to the time they would close at bedtime. I was tired, scared, and trying my best to stay distracted at work. It was a daily…no, it was an hourly battle to keep my mind on Jesus and not be overcome by fear. One moment I’d be full of faith and trust, and the next moment I’d be battling the scary thoughts that would come into my mind. The Bible says that God’s word is a sword…well, that’s clear to me now for I was in a battle.

One evening, we were driving the girls to youth group and Mike was driving the car. We had just gotten off the freeway and were waiting at a stoplight. I had earlier that day downloaded onto my phone a Steven Curtis Chapman song from my teen years called “Way Beyond the Blue”. It’s about God’s plans for your life being SO amazing that they are “way beyond the blue”! It’s a beautiful song that has always taken me to a place of joy, excitement, and the wonderful anticipation of all that God might have in store for my life. It’s funny how one simple song can take you back…back to times when things weren’t crazy, when life was easier, when there weren’t any health scares, and dreams felt like a reality. To me, it’s always felt like one of those songs that made you think of flying…or at least being held in God’s huge hand as you surrender to His safe and loving grasp and He just carries you. In my mind… in the car…getting off the freeway exit… I imagined myself once again in His Hands…and wishing this storm wasn’t a reality.

All of a sudden it was like someone “snapped” their finger in front of my face and I was awake to see what my eyes were looking at. In an INSTANT, I knew God was speaking. It was a “Park and Ride” sign that hung in front of us. I know, I know…this sounds so ridiculous…but I instantly burst into tears! In that tiny little second, God was speaking to me, and literally “giving me a sign”. As my eyes focused on the sign…it was my heart that was coming into focus… on Jesus…and He was telling me to stop driving the weight of this storm myself, to park my “car” and to ride with Him instead. The realization hit me that it’s not me that’s going to get me where I need to be. It’s Him…because He’s the driver…not me. In that moment, on that overpass, God was telling me to “park my car” and hop into His. That I was to trust Him…to “ride” with Him… and to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He would take care of me.

All of this in a simple “Park and Ride” sign.

And take care of me, He did! I found out a few days later at the doctor’s office that God had healed me. I received a miracle and that blog will come soon. I sobbed in the doctor’s waiting room just overcome by God’s love and His presence with me, and I’ll never be the same again.

God speaks to us. He loves us. He wants us to park…and to ride with Him.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14).