Most of us are anxious of something. My fear and anxiety have always been over security checks, check-in times, interviews etc. I would say where ever there was a place where there was a chance of things going wrong, I get anxious.
With my travelling to India, after 3 years, with baggage checks, security checks and interviews all together, I started getting anxious. The Lord provided me an answer through a lost phone experience.
2 days before travelling, while jumping out of the car to return an item, the phone fell down. I found this within seconds of starting the car. I stopped and searched. I did search thoroughly. Still no luck. I went to another brother in Christs’ home and tried calling my mobile, only to realize that during confession I had put it to Silent.
However, strangely I was not anxious. I somehow felt the Lord reconfirming that He will give me my mobile. We prayed and I left his home. I returned to the same spot and tried reproducing the act. Some act of wisdom asked me to look in one of the corners of car and yes, the phone was there. Praise be to Jesus as I am sure I did search there earlier.
But during this experience the Lord taught me a lot:
1. Lost Sheep experience & owner’s joy in finding
2. This was not a costly phone but a phone I had switched before travel. I might not have had the same peace if I had lost my original phone. The Lord knew my limits and did not test me beyond my threshold.
3. But above all, I always used to think that the Lord would help, if I was perfect. That day, that act of rushing was not correct. I had ample time in the day, yet I had postponed till the 11th hour. Yet, it did not matter to our Father. Through this experience He showed me, in my imperfection is when He could show His perfect protection, love and care.
When this thought was revealed to me through Jesus in the mass, I was overjoyed. Fear slowly started leaving me and at the airport I was wishing everybody “Merry Christmas”. I was joyful. Even when things did not go perfect, there was great peace with in me because it soon fell in perfect plan even beyond my expectations. For now I know, in my imperfection and fragility, my Father is still there besides me.
I am no longer as anxious as before, and I will pray that soon all my anxieties will be wiped in Jesus blood.
Gerald