Bright Red Lights

Driving on snowy & icy roads is something everyone from Minnesota has to learn, and a few nights ago my own driving skills were put to the test.

It was snowing and windy - a bad combination for safe traveling. Reluctantly, I pulled out onto a two-lane highway behind a semi-truck. I didn’t want to follow the semi because I thought it would be going too slowly for my taste. However, it was the opposite. The semi was speeding along on the icy roads. Since it was difficult to see the road, my only hope was to follow the truck’s bright red taillights.

Ironically, the same truck that had frustrated me a few minutes earlier was now providing light to guide my way home.

As I struggled to keep up, I thought about those lights in relation to me following God. As I follow Him, there are times in my life when I feel like He is going too fast for me to keep up. I was reminded that during those times, I need to just focus on the Light and follow close to Him.

Finally I turned off onto a county road. I was relieved that I could now drive at a comfortable speed. This road was also more secluded and it was lined with trees to block the wind. I started settling in for a more relaxing drive home. Unfortunately, my relaxation was short-lived.

Soon I saw red flashing lights in the distance. As I got closer, I realized that these lights shined off the back of a snowplow. A very slow-moving snowplow! At this point I really just wanted to get home, so the slow-moving vehicle perturbed me.

Then a smile came to my face as I once again realized the irony of my situation.

First I had been forced to follow bright red lights that were going too fast. Now I had to follow bright red flashing lights that were going too slow. God sure does have a sense of humor and He was definitely trying to drive home (no pun intended) a point to me that night!

The point was that I need to follow God’s light. Sometimes He may take me down roads more quickly than I would like. Other times, He will take me on a path that seems painfully slow. Either way, I need to follow His light and seek His will. I need to trust that His lighted path is the right one for me.

Scripture: I John 1

Prayer: Dear God, I want to follow the road you want me to travel. I want to follow You no matter whether it seems I am going too fast or too slow. During these times, I want to trust You and follow Your light so that I know I am where You want me to be. Help me to trust in Your timing for my life and to follow You. I know that Your Word says in I John 1:5 that “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” I believe in You and I believe that You are light.