The phone screen lit up. I got a notification.

My flight for tomorrow was rescheduled because of the snowstorm. The message that followed contained the new flight itinerary. After looking at the flight details, my heart began pounding. The travel disruption could lead to a missed medical appointment, and I waited for this appointment for a long time.

For the past few years, I have been struggling with severe spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spine that causes pressure on the spinal cord. My life has changed drastically. My back starts to hurt after my body stays in the same position for a long time. I cannot do most of the activities I once enjoyed, including hiking, walking, and working out.

I tried to print out my boarding pass several times at the airport the following day. After a few failed attempts, I asked for help at the check-in counter.

“If you want to leave early, I can get you on another flight. We had a last-minute cancellation,” the airline representative said, looking at the monitor. 

“That would be wonderful,” I replied.  

It felt like God had gone before me, because getting on that flight meant I would arrive with enough time to rest before my medical appointment. I didn’t go looking to ask the airline representative to put me on another flight. I was just trying to resolve the problem with the boarding pass not printing.

After finishing check-in, the representative informed me that the wheelchair was on the way. Someone on staff at the airport brought me to the gate. Though the flight departed on time, I had no idea that my travel plans were about to change . . . again.

After landing at the stopover airport, I discovered that all the flights heading in the direction I needed to go were canceled because of another snowstorm. I couldn’t leave until the following day, and this left me feeling disheartened. Once again, the possibility of missing my medical appointment became a reality. After four canceled flights, I was exhausted. My pain became worse, and I felt overwhelmed.

The next morning, I was at the airport checking in for my flight. While the flight wasn’t delayed, there was still a possibility of not arriving on time because of the potential snowstorm. Yet, after the takeoff, a strong relief came over me. The view from an airplane window was breathtaking and just what I needed in the midst of uncertainty, because seeing God’s glory through the airplane window reminded me of His faithfulness.

Even though my flight arrived later than expected, I was still on time and didn’t miss my medical appointment. It felt like God went before me and surprised me with a miracle when I least expected it. Once again, I was reminded that the same God who created the universe is the same God who goes before His people. Furthermore, God didn’t just promise to go before His people; He also promised to be with them.    

While holding onto the truth that the Lord goes before us, we need not be scared and disheartened. For, God goes before us no matter where we are, how we are feeling, or what we are facing. He knows which way we are going and what lies ahead of us. God fights on our behalf, and He knows the outcome of our story before we do. Whatever surprises we encounter aren’t surprises for the Lord.

No matter what circumstances we are in, may we always remember this: God is always the same. He is not a distant observer; and He will never leave nor forsake us.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV 

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