Did I tell you about the time we drove to Virginia to stay in a rental cabin at the peak of the Blue Ridge Mountains and arrived after dark,… in a brand new place,… down a winding gravel road,… and one of the kids happened to mention, “I hope there are no bears or snakes when we get out of the car”?

Or how about the time we went exploring down a rutted dirt road near a lake,… after it had been raining,… right as dusk was falling,… spun our wheels trying to climb the hill to leave,… were afraid we were going to be stuck there overnight, and took an hour packing the ruts with logs and sticks to be able to climb the hill out?

Or maybe the time at the beach when this novice beach driver parked a huge Chevy sedan in soft sand?

No? I haven’t told you these?

Ok, then surely I’ve mentioned camping in a tent with kiddos when it snowed that night,… followed by rain all the next day,… a flooded tent,… and having to find a hotel and leave 4 kids age 13 and under in the hotel alone while we parents went back and broke camp, threw the tent away, and came really close to cursing! #@&*%#$

Or the time we blew an engine moving between cities at 10:00pm and had to abandon a vehicle loaded with stuff at a rest stop?

Or the time…

Well, you get the picture. Let me just say, that these are just the tip of the iceberg.

Our family has had many unexpected adventures through the years – some of them frightening at the time, some frustrating, and all anxiety producing. The first few were jolting and ramped up our fears and frustration. But over the years a truth has become clear, no matter how difficult and scary these times were, they each became a favorite story for our family to reminisce about.

We survived everything we were sure we would not. And you know what else, we learned to find humor in the hard times, to zip our lips and not accuse fellow family members, to be patient and kind, and NOT to worry, nor curse.

And my favorite lesson, we learned to get some perspective in the moment. When our family is having an unwelcome adventure these days, inevitably one of the group will say, “This is gonna make a great story one day!” It breaks the tension. We are reminded of all those hard, scary times God has already brought us through. The heart rates slow and we are able to breathe.

Now why did it take us years to learn those lessons? Because somehow we did not believe the truth of the Word of God that says:

• “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
• “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
• “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Joshua 1:5
• “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7

All I can say is, learn from our mistakes so you don’t have to make your own. Father God is trustworthy. We can count on Him. We are His beloved. Take a breath in the middle of the chaos and tell yourself, “This is gonna make a great story one day!” Then trust God for your every need and fear.