By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew
There have been so many times in my life that I didn’t expect things to go the way that they have. I’ll never forget a few years ago, I was heading to the store to pick up some last-minute medicine on Christmas Day at CVS.
I was visiting my mother in Louisiana. At the time, it was easier to use my daughter’s car since it was behind the other vehicles in the driveway. As we stopped at the light, a huge F150 hit us from behind.
All I heard was the screeching of the tires and glass from the back window of her Scion flew everywhere. I was in the passenger seat and because of the impact, I was jolted despite the restraint of the seatbelt. I didn’t want to go to the emergency room—spending Christmas there didn’t seem like fun.
So, I took pain meds and just took it easy. The next day I was in so much pain. I couldn’t immediately get back to Texas because of the drive. As soon as I was able to come back home, I visited a doctor only to find out I had two herniated discs. The pain was unexplainable and with meds, physical therapy, and exercise, I improved.
As I reflect on that experience, in my wildest dreams, I would have never believed that my life would have changed in just a few minutes. I could not have predicted on Christmas Eve that the next day, I would be in a car accident. Life happens and things happen that we don’t expect.
When I think about the disciples on the boat with Jesus, I’m sure that they felt safe and didn’t predict that danger was possible. Mark 4:35-40 begins, “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid…”
They expected things go as planned. They had been out at sea many times as fishermen and were aware of the changes in weather to predict a storm on the water.
Yet, in this situation, it occurred quickly without any notice or warning. Even with Jesus right there, they were afraid, wondering if Jesus saw what they were going through and didn’t care.
I know through out my pain, I wondered why God allowed that to happen. I’m much better but I still suffer ever so often with lower back issues. I couldn’t understand why it happened to me.
Yet, as we go through these unexpected trials and tribulations that happen without warning, we must know that God isn’t ignoring what we go through. God cares. It’s learning that we have the power to speak to our storms and know that in the midst of the madness, we can trust that God is with us.
The storm will go away, and that God is still in control even when it feels like everything is out of control. We all have plans that are not always God’s plan.
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21 ESV).
Life happens, plans change but know that whatever you are experiencing God is there with you, reminding you to speak to the storm when unexpected situations arise, and they will.
Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.
