Destination Deliverer

Our Missus just got back from an overseas trip. Mercy. I thought it was hard when I dropped her off at Kindergarten. Life moves on. Worries change. Times change. This lesson was driven home hard in recent days.

Her college chorale group was traveling through Prague,Vienna and Munich. Lovely. Until the news channels began running stories about terrorist threats in large European cities over the New Year. Big, fat not so lovely.

I’d hear the news reports and my stomach would tighten.

I know you have her Lord but please receive my continuous prayers for her protection.

It was only day three of their travel and I was thrilled to receive several text messages. It was midnight her time but she needed a sounding board regarding a conversation she felt she needed to have with a friend.

I happily obliged. More than anything the flurry of words across the screen were the tangible sign that she was well. She needed sleep (no doubt in part her shut-eye was further delayed because her mother texts with one finger). It was time to call it quits. We ended with our “good night kiss” emojis and called it good.

Flash forward an hour later. I received the following text.

My knee-jerk reaction was a rapid jolt that landed my heart in my throat. My very next reaction was annoyance. I thought,

If this prayer request is based on her previous concerns regarding a friend then…I. Am. Not. Happy.

I  re-read the text three times and then whispered heavenward, “Okay God. Let’s do this. However, I have no idea if this a real crisis or one that simply feels like a crisis. I need you to take me where you want me to pray in scripture. I won’t know how to pray if you don’t.”

Boom.

Straight to Psalm 31. I didn’t thumb my way to it. I didn’t contemplate where to start.

I closed my eyes and He opened them.

“I run to you, God; I run for dear life. Don’t let me down! Take me seriously this time! Get down on my level and listen, and please—no procrastination! Your granite cave a hiding place, your high cliff aerie a place of safety.” Psalm 31:1-2 MSG

Let’s just say God had my attention.

“Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide. Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you. I’ve put my life in your hands.” Psalm 31:4-5 MSG

He no longer had my attention. He had my heart. There was just one problem, my heart was a half a world away at the end of an ominous text.

“Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me.” Psalm 31:15 MSG

I continued to pray. As you can well imagine… I was no longer annoyed.

“In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men.” Psalm 31:20 NIV

Prayers continued to fly heavenward regarding “the intrigues of men.” I knew He had her and the group in His hands.

“Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.” Psalm 31:21 NIV

I interceded for Prague, the surrounding area, cities in Europe and in the States.

“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24 NIV

Peace.

Questions were unanswered but for reasons I couldn’t explain I had peace.

Some time later she called. It would have been 3:00 am in Prague. A SWAT team had evacuated all of the occupants of their hotel secondary to a terrorist threat. The team was tired (tired we can handle) but all was well.

My Deliverer delivered her.

I have never posted a serious destination tip on this blog. Levity and lightheartedness are in short supply these days so I try to keep that in mind when I write. (Destination Laugh.)

However, the world is a different place. I don’t believe that should stop us from traveling abroad for any purpose. Missions, work or even pleasure. But I can tell you that from this most recent experience my DoAhead Destination tip will be to bathe the trip in prayer…before…during…and after.

Your DoAhead Friend,