Through The Fog

It was 4:30 am. For many of you, you already hate this story. But nonetheless, it was 4:30 in the morning and I was heading out of my house to go to work. One of my roommates warned me before going out into the crisp winter air that we were, “socked in.” His word didn’t disappoint. As I walk through the front door, our beautiful front yard view of Mt. Diablo was nothing more than a white haze. Not even a shadow or tracing could even be seen of the landmark. I could barely see the vineyard directly across the four lane boulevard we live off of. I got in the truck and as my headlights turned on, it just made things worse. The very tool that helped me get home safe last night, seemed like nothing more than a hazard. I slowly creeped down Empire Avenue to Laurel Road. Aside from the occasional dare devil, everyone drove a steady 25 miles per hour down Highway 4. I arrived to work safe and on time.

At 8 that morning, I still couldn’t see the end of our parking lot at Lowe’s where I work. There’s an eeriness to fog. It’s damp, it’s quiet and is effective in the same way as darkness. I don’t sleep in pitch black darkness. I need the television on or a dimmed light. I hate not being able to see. It’s bad enough when I’m laying down to sleep, but driving in darkness? It comes down to one thing. Something that when you discover it, you find out that it’s the source of many issues in your life. It’s not being able to see that makes you anxious. It’s your lack of one thing:

Control.

There’s so much to control. Some of us are control freaks to where you’re the one no one likes inviting on family vacations because you don’t know how to just relax. When we have control, we can see the path in front of us. When we know what school we’re going to after high school, when we know how the bills are going to be paid at the first of the month, when we know what the doctor is going to say next, things tend to go a lot smoother because we get a good idea what the end road looks like.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10

Now, obviously God is in control. I will try not to tell you something you already know. So what do we do when we’re in the fog without any control? Acknowledging that God is in control isn’t always enough because the fog remains. God created this fog. The very thing that is disrupting your life, God allowed to happen! Therefore, there is a purpose for it. Fog will keep you in one place for a minute. Sometimes we can move so fast in life that we don’t take the time to just stop and remain. Remain in the blessings that are all around you because you’re too busy searching for more. You can become so obsessed with wanting God to bless you in one particular way, that you miss Him working in your life.

The other perspective with fog is you can feel stuck. Have you ever felt stuck? Where it feels like your circumstances aren’t changing. Just when you think things are going to get better, a new wave of issues overwhelm you wearing the same mask as your last problem making things all the more exhausting. You just can’t catch a break. I’m going to say something here that pains me to admit. It’s the ultimate issue with a situation like this and it kills me because I am so guilty of lacking this greatly:

Patience.

Phew… That felt good to get off my chest. I hate that word. It keeps popping up in my life like an annoying rodent. It’s like God is trying to tell me something. Just recently, a man attempted to steal my mother’s wallet while she was checking out at the hardware store. He approached her from in line and complemented her wallet and I stepped in and he backed way off. With a grin he said, “now see that’s what a man is suppose to do.” Not going to lie to you guys, I wanted to put hands on him. That’s my mother. Who in the world do you think you are? I’ve learned in therapy though, to quote Thumper if I may, “if you don’t have something good to say, don’t say nothing at all.” Immense patience, y’all. I found myself praying continuously to the truck, once I got in the truck, once I started driving. I put on a podcast from Pastor Andy Stanley’s North Point Community Church and there was best selling author of one my favorite books, Love Does, preaching on, “Immense Patience.” I’d say God is trying to tell me something, but I’m too impatient to listen. [kidding]

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” – Romans‬ ‭12:9-13‬ ‭

Isn’t it amazing how relentless God is? That He loves you so much He will do whatever it takes to make it work. When you were lost, without purpose, He gave you His Son on a cross. When you needed a comforter, He sent you His Spirit. And throughout your life there will be lessons learned (like me with patience) that when you don’t learn the first time, He doesn’t give up on you! So as you wait patiently, know that experiencing God is inevitable. As Bob Goff said in that awesome podcast I heard, if you want to experience Jesus, use immense patience.

Now, fog is something God has brought, but even with fog remember: The sun burns it off! The fog you currently can’t see through, is only here for a season. This too, shall pass, but be still and know that He is God. Be still and know that He who began a good work in you will complete it. I am so thankful for the Son who burned away the fog between me and His father so that I could have clarity; so that I could have peace. Don’t wait for the fog to burn to praise Him. Praise Him now. Praise Him like you already know He’s going to burn it off. Praise Him because you know He’s got you! He “will not leave you, nor forsake you.”

My prayer is that you see through my cheesy metaphor and know this: While you may not be able to see God in the fog, He can see you. He has not forgotten you. If you’re breathing, He still has a plan for you. But if you want His plan to pan out in your life, you have to let go of the control you think you have. Then, you will see Him work. Know that the fog will burn off. It isn’t there to stay. Then, you will see, “Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,” but according to what? Your mind? What you think makes sense? Hardly. “According to the power that works in us,” (Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬)

A little side note, I was able to attend the California American Baptist State Association Meeting in Bakersfield a few weeks ago and I was so overwhelmed by the number of you that saw me, encouraged me, complemented my blogs and offered your support in hopes and prayers that I return to the pulpit in the Lord’s time. Standing in my corner has never meant so much. God is not done with me and your love and support means so much to me. Signing out for now. Talk to you again soon. Thanks for reading.