One of those Days.

There are times when one just knows it's going to be 'one of those days' and you have to accept it. Like yesterday was one of those days. The weather forecast called for snow flurries. Um, okay, snow flurries are fine. However, snow squalls and whiteouts are not welcomed nor fine. These two things carry an element of surprise and can often strike with sudden fury.

Here in our hometown, we had a few flurries, nothing great to speak of. Further away from here was a different story. Here was a Pennsylvania map Friday March 3 at approximately 5:15 PM (PA511.com).

All the little red triangles are working accidents and many of them were multiple automobile incidents due to squalls and whiteout conditions. The yellow diamonds are accidents with lane restrictions. That's a lot of trouble that befell the highways of our state.

What are we to do when whiteouts and snow squalls hit? Wise methods call for one to get off the highway, preferably in a store parking lot. Anywhere off the busy highway is a good bet, but what should one do when there is no escape route? Slow down! Turn headlights on. Turn fourway flashers on. Might not hurt to hug the right hand side of the driving lane. In so many words, you can only do so much. In whiteout situations, visibility goes away. Prayer and common sense are the best friends one can have.

Have you ever sensed your life looks a lot like this PA road map? Some days, my life has looked like it, or at least I thought it did. In reality, I thought my situation was far worse than this map but eventually realized I had been steered away from catastrophe by an unseen hand.

“But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33, NIV)

God has a vested interest in each of us and seeks to assure us of his enduring divine presence. Primarily, God has brought us peace through His Son Jesus Christ and we enjoy the presence of the resurrected one. Our life was once filled with red triangles and yellow diamonds of sin and mayhem. God came to our rescue and brought peace and assurance to troubled souls. He made us whiter than snow. (See what I just did there?)

Jesus is our PA511.com. Jesus told his disciples and tells us that this world will throw many curveballs and detours, but we should not lose heart. The scripture from John 16 should give us direction and hope. The promise of Christ to overcome this crazy world is one we can rest on and navigate life's difficult moments. On days that end in the letter 'y' Jesus will be there. On days you struggle, Jesus will be there. On the red triangle and yellow diamond days, Jesus will be there. Tomorrow is another day to test this truth. Believe me, I'll be looking for Jesus to show up in my chaos.