I Am With You Always

It was a beautiful evening, and I had just finished an overdue visit to my hairdresser and returned to my car. It was really dark as I put the key in the ignition and turned on the engine. Then I saw it: low beam headlight failure! No problem, I thought.

I can just use the high beams as needed. To say I was overconfident as I drove off would be an understatement, but I knew I would be on well-lit roads in twenty minutes. Or so I thought. I realized this was not the best solution when I saw blue-and-red lights flashing at the scene of an accident at the first major intersection. My heart sank.

Now I would have to take a detour on an unfamiliar road.

My overconfidence disappeared, and I prayed, “Lord, have mercy.” If I had been able to turn left, that would have been great. I knew the alternate way through the mall parking access roads, but because of the accident, there was only one way.

I had to go right. That night right seemed wrong for me. However, as I turned right, there was one thing I could thank God for: the police were too busy with the accident to take time to notice my low-beam dilemma. As I turned onto the unknown one-lane road, there were no streetlights. I felt helpless on a dark road with my one low-beam light.

I could not see my way. But God heard my cry and gave me peace. I know God heard because there was every reason to panic. The GPS was not helpful, and I could not see a safe place to stop and call my husband. Thank God, my GSS (Good Shepherd System) was working; I could depend on Psalm 23:4. “Thou art with me,” I prayed as I followed a few cars headed in the same direction as home. Finally, I saw a familiar road, but I was in the wrong lane. I needed to get over to the left-turn lane. I put on my left indicator, and a road angel graciously allowed me to slip into the correct lane. “Thank You, Jesus,” I exclaimed. That back road had never looked so good! It was well lit, and I was more familiar with it. I soon made it safely home. The Good Shepherd had fulfilled His promise yet again. “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20, KJV). Another tested and proven promise from the Lord! Thank You, Lord!

Claudette Garbutt-Harding