Flying to Denver
How do you hear God speaking to you?
Do you hear him as you read the Bible?
Do you hear him through other people’s words, teachings, or sermons?
Do you hear him by sensing his words in his “still small voice” within your heart?
Perhaps you hear him in nature, the lyrics of a hymn or song, or in a poem.
God speaks to us in many creative ways.
**********
Here’s a little story about when, recently, I heard him speak to my heart through a Bible verse.
**********
My sister’s 80th birthday was coming up. A big party was planned, and she hoped that my two brothers and I would help her celebrate by joining her and other family members and friends in Denver, Colorado.
I had known about the party for some time, but because of my husband’s radiation therapy, I thought I needed to stay home. My sister thought so, too. She told me it was fine, that she would understand if I decided not to join them this time.
But my husband really encouraged me to go. I could fly, he said. Allegiant has a non-stop flight to Denver from our airport. It would be easy.
So with his blessing, we went ahead and booked a flight for me.
My nephew called to tell me that he would be picking me up, so we arranged our meeting place.
Denver Airport is huge, and I haven’t flown alone for years, so I was a bit nervous about finding him after I landed, even though he tried his best to direct me.
Could I locate the “passenger pickup” door on the east side? I wasn’t sure.
**********
The day before I flew, a friend of ours sent my husband and me a Bible verse, as he often does.
Isaiah 42:6
I, Yahweh, have commissioned you in righteousness to succeed,
I will take your hand in love and watch over you. . .
In context, these verses were spoken by God about his son, Jesus.
But as I read them, I felt that this time, they were for me too.
“I will take your hand in love and watch over you.”
I was delighted and told our friend that I was holding these words close to my heart, as though God were speaking to me, as I headed out on this adventure to Colorado.
**********
When I took my place on the plane, there were two empty seats next to me. Soon, a couple came in, sat down in those seats, and buckled in.
As the flight took off, the woman turned to me and asked if I had ever been to Colorado before. And I, in turn, asked her why she was going there, and, as you can imagine, that started a nice conversation that began over Iowa and took us at least through Nebraska’s airspace. They were from a small college town north of our city, and we found much in common.
During the flight, I told her that I was traveling alone this time and was a bit anxious about finding my nephew, who was waiting for me in his car at the passenger pick-up location.
Our conversation continued, and eventually, time passed, and we arrived at the Denver airport.
As we gathered our carry-ons, that couple went on ahead of me.
But as I deboarded, I found them waiting for me. They walked with me because we were headed in the same direction.
They helped me get on the train that took us to the main terminal, and even asked an attendant where the passenger pick-up area was located. I looked up and sure enough, there was a sign (large and easy to read), Passenger Pick-up!
We walked down the stairs to the door, and when we were about to part ways, the wife went to the right toward baggage pick-up, and the husband told her he was going to walk with me, all the way to my nephew’s car.
I was amazed and delighted. As we approached the car, I stopped and shook this man’s hand, thanking him for helping me find my way.
Then the verse came to my mind where God said, “I will hold your right hand in love and watch over you.
Yes, God had given me the promise and had used some new friends to carry it out.
I felt seen and well-loved.
I shouldn’t have been surprised… because I know that’s the way God works.
**********
And the birthday party? It was a wonderful success! Many friends and family members came to help my sister celebrate, a tribute to how well-loved she is.
In the end, I was incredibly thankful that I had taken the flight to Denver, where, once again, I experienced the goodness of God.
P.S. I would love to know how you have heard God speaking to you recently. Please leave a note in the comment section below.
Let’s encourage one another with God’s delightful stories!