A Night and Day Difference

... weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. ~Psalm 30: 5b

I was tired. My feet hurt. In fact, my entire body ached from fatigue and tension from sitting on an airplane. I was anxious to find my hotel, shower, and sleep ... after a quick trip to the Eiffel Tower. 

But how often do we plan something and find ourselves taking a different path?

Upon arrival to Charles deGaul airport, I found an airport representative who could give me directions to the train station that would transport me to my hotel. With my permission, she typed instructions into the notepad on my phone.

Follow the signs to Border Control down the escalator, then follow further signs for the train station. There'll be 2 trains. The first to terminal K then the next to Parking lot ... 

Easy, right?

Over 2 hours later, I found myself instructing my body to take another step. Keep walking. Just a few steps more. It won't be long now.

But deep within, my heart beat wildly. I was exhausted. A man had decided to follow me around, asking strange questions about my hotel and how many beds ... I was increasingly uncomfortable and hoping he would lose his way. Which, I confess, I asked the Lord for. And He answered. 

But I was still wandering about, taking escalators, weary and in pain. In the end, it took a custodian to show me the way to the train station I searched for. (Lord bless those essential workers.

And he did.

I learned I wasn't the only American hoping for a kind individual to offer assistance. We found our train and rode it to our designated stops. Then the search began again. But outside this time. At 10pm.

I wanted to turn back and settle in on a bench at the airport. Although the hotel was paid for, it wasn't worth the energy anymore.

But I felt nudged to continue across a drive, where I rounded a corner, and there it was. My lodging for the night. After paying the remaining tax balance on the room, grabbing a Pepsi and a water, I headed to my room and settled in for rest. It was apparent that a trip to the Eiffel Tower would have to wait for another adventure into the country.

 In the morning, rested and decidedly heading back to the airport, I stopped into the lobby for breakfast. I was drawn to the window where the sun warmed the seats and tables in the morning. The scenery outside was so inviting. 

Not a cloud in the sky. Children played at the park across the courtyard. And a look to the right, and I could see the train station I had come from the night before. Maybe a block from my hotel's front door. I pulled out my phone and was able to map directions to my gate from where I sat ... 3.1 miles walking distance. The guest service attendant told me I could take a door-to-door shuttle for a price, but the train was free. I was not opposed to free. Preferred it, actually.

So I made my way back. Directions in hand, along with the light of day, I was prepared for the trek. 

It is amazing how differently the situation looked in the morning light.

As the days passed, I thought about this journey. In the morning, the feelings of fear and abandonment. I have become keenly aware of how near to me God was the entire trip overseas. And there are a few lessons I am learning.

First, when we are in the darkness of our circumstances, and we can't see any light in our tunnel, we can be assured that God is with us. His Word is our light (Psalm 119:105). We can stand on His promise when He says, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). And then this is repeated, "And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8). 

Now I have heard it said that for something to be repeated twice in Scripture, it's like an exclamation point at the end of a sentence. He means it.

So we can take this promise and cling to it as a light in our darkness, whatever it may be.

Second, I was followed by someone who may or may not have had pure intentions. I didn't want to find out, and the Lord heard my cry for help.

This was an instance of His protection that I am aware of. How often does He move to protect us that we don't know?

💝 We can praise Him for every unseen and seen moment of His intervention. 💝

Until next time, Karlene J 💕