"Be Still and Know That He is God"

“All seats for Dallas flight 645 have now been sold out. We are looking for volunteers who can take a later flight and are willing to give up their seats…it will be greatly appreciated. This will be a packed flight ladies and gentlemen ,” the announcement came in a thick Texan accent. I had been sitting in the San Antonio airport for over an hour waiting for my flight to Dallas. I was on my way to spend a week and a half with my brother. I was bored, exhausted, and hungry. I’d been up since 1 in the morning. My parents had driven the 3 hours to Phoenix where I took a plane at 7. I had almost fallen asleep during the 2 hour trip to Texas and now I had to wait 2 more hours for my final flight. I spent the hours sitting at my gate trying hard not to doze off. I almost jumped out of my seat when the boarding started, all I wanted was to get to Dallas, take a nice bath, eat something and go to bed. But of course I always had the luck of getting one of the last numbers on my ticket, so I was at the very end of the boarding line. By the time I was about to board one of the personnel came up to the two men in front of me told them that there wasn’t enough space in the overhead compartments for their carry-ons so if they could fit their bags under the seats they could do that, but if not, they would need to check them with him. There was no way I was going to  leave my bag there, too many people complained about lost bags so I wasn’t about  to take the risk. My bag was too big I knew it wasn’t going to fit under the seat. The man came up to me asked me the same question. But I refused to check it trusting that there would be space for it somewhere. Sure enough the plane was packed and what it seemed, no space for more luggage. I was almost to the back when I saw, what was perhaps the last space available. Thinking that I was fortunate, I sat down and looked out the window the rest of the flight. My stay was fun and relaxing. The week and a half was over before I knew it and it was time to go back home. My flight back to Arizona left at 7 in the morning and I got to the airport with no time to spare; one hour before my flight was supposed to leave and it took me 45 minutes to get through security. Everyone had already boarded when I got to my gate. Of course it was packed and of course there was no more space for my bag. Just my luck. I looked all around then it was as if someone had told me to look to the right, next to me, there was a perfect space for my bag and that was literally the last one! Thinking I had gotten lucky again I sat down. All of a sudden I felt God’s presence seep throughout my body, His warmth engulfed me and overwhelmed me. Then I heard His unmistakable voice speak to my heart and my mind, “If I can provide in the smallest of things don’t you think I can provide in the bigger ones? ” His voice was so gentle, reassuring yet firm, and so calm it warmed me inside out. This was no luck, this was no fortune, this was no coincidence, this wasn't even fate. I couldn’t keep the tears from coming, the Lord had spoken to me before many times but this was just different. In those few words He said a lot more,” I’m with you, never doubt it. Don’t worry about tomorrow don’t worry about how you’re going to get a job, don’t worry that you didn’t get into nursing school, I’ve got you covered. I love you, how could I not provide for you?”  His assurance was so peaceful so loving it melted me on the spot. I realized that God was everywhere I went and even in the smallest of things we usually take for granted God is there. He had provided a space for my bags on the plane twice. Sometimes, when we think that God is not with us, it is in those moments that He is working out all the little details of His plans for our lives. It is very human to attribute the small, seemingly insignificant things of our daily lives to chance or to nothing at all. This is a big reason why we can't hear God's voice when we are straining so hard to hear it. If we can't hear His sweet voice in the calm of our lives we will much less when burdened with worry about our future. Still yet, if burdened with pride, we lack the humility to acknowledge that Our Heavenly Father is in control of everything. God wants to give you peace instead of your worries; calm in the chaos, you need only be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

-Evelyn