It was 1989. Our daughter, Rose, was ready for her first year in college. She had decided to attend Hartland. But how was she going to get there? My husband and son were busy with farming and could not get away. So that left me to drive her the twenty-two hours across country and then return alone.

I had never driven that far alone and knowing that conditions in our world are not getting better, a woman driving alone, so far, did not seem like a wise idea. So I started praying. Seeing that there was no other way, I found assurance in my Lord that He would travel with me. By the time we were ready to go I had full confidence that God would see me through.

Our trip to the school went smoothly. My weekend stay was delightful. Early Monday morning, I was up and headed on my way home. You can be sure I spent a lot of time in prayer and thinking of my Lord and His promises. We had a precious day of communion.

By 9:00 p.m. I was in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was past the time that I should retire for the night, but I was so anxious to get home. While driving through the city, I suddenly saw a Motel 6. “That is where I want to spend the night,” I said to myself. The big sign read, “Take the next exit and turn left.” So I did exactly as the sign had directed, or so I thought.

Suddenly, I was lost! There were no street lights, no signs, no street names, only darkness. There were men and boys walking on the edge of the road; there were dimly lit, poorly kept houses, and everything looked dangerous and frightening. I was about to panic. I certainly was not going to roll down my window and ask directions from anyone as to how to get back on the freeway or how to find Motel 6.

As soon as panic seized me, I said to myself, “God has taken care of me thus far on my journey. He will not forsake me now.” Then I began to ask God to show me how to get back on the freeway. When I would come to an intersection, I would say, “Lord, I do not know which way to go. Please turn my steering wheel the right way.” Well, He must have done just that, because it ended up that every single turn was the right one. For I soon found myself on an overpass, looking down at the freeway that I had just come off of, moments before.

“Oh, thank you Lord. But, oh no, I’m going the wrong direction. How do I get back onto I-40 West?” I was totally turned around and it seemed that I was going the opposite direction of where I needed to go.

Then, when I reached the end of the overpass, I looked up and there before me was a freeway sign, “I-40 West.” Praise the Lord! Oh, I just thanked Him over and over again! I made a left turn which was the only way I could go and was soon on my way out of town. I decided I was not going to stop until I could see a motel that was right along the freeway with a very obvious exit and entrance. I asked the Lord to help me stay awake until such a place could be found.

I drove another 30-40 miles before I found a motel right on the freeway. I was settled in for the night by 10:00 p.m. and able to call my husband and son, to let them know where I was and that I was safe. Thanks be to God!

This spring, my husband and I drove to Hartland together to see our daughter who is on the staff of Young Disciple. On our way back home, we were going through Little Rock about the same time of night. I pointed out the Motel 6 to my husband and the sign which said, “Take next exit and turn left.” Then I said, “Let’s look for the overpass where I came back onto the freeway.” So we started looking. Soon we were out of the city. I suddenly realized, there was no overpass. I exclaimed to my husband, “Honey, God must have made a special overpass. There was no overpass on I-40, west of Motel 6!” Chills went up and down my spine. What an awesome God we serve. He can do anything He needs to do in order to deliver His children out of trouble. If He can open the Red Sea for over six million people, making an overpass for one person is just a little thing!

The song, “Somebody Bigger than You and I” has even more meaning to me now. My favorite phrases are,

“He lights the way when the road is long,

Keeps you company;

With love to guide you, He walks beside you,

Just like He walks with me.

When I am weary, filled with despair,

Who gives me courage to go on from there,

And who gives me faith that will never die?

Somebody bigger than you and I.”

Do we ever have need to fear as we prepare for heaven? Let us not forget how God is able to deliver us out of all our troubles. Psalms 34:17.