This is supposedly a true story from the pages of the Manchester Evening Times but I was unable to confirm.
Last Wednesday a passenger in a taxi heading for Salford station leaned over to ask the driver a question and gently tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb and stopped just inches from a large plate window.
For a few moments everything was silent in the cab. Then, the shaking driver said "Are you OK? I’m so sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me." The badly shaken passenger apologized to the driver and said, "I didn’t realize that a mere tap on the shoulder would startle someone so badly." The driver replied, "No, no, I’m the one who is sorry, it’s entirely my fault. Today is my very first day driving a cab. I’ve been driving a hearse for 25 years."
That would be a shock, wouldn’t it? Many times in life we are surprised by what comes up behind us. Certainly things startle us once in a while. It could be an illness, the loss of a loved one, a job change or financial difficulties. And if you have teenagers it is probably a daily occurrence!
These circumstances can cause us to scream, swerve and run up on a curb. But it is in these times that we need to “stay the course” and not lose faith. Read these words from the Apostle Paul as he writes to his son in the faith, Timothy:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. “ 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV
It is also comforting to know that when we put our trust in the Lord He will not disappoint us. Our human relationships can’t help but disappoint because we are all sinners.
“Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” Isaiah 49:23b NIV
Where is your hope today? Is it in your savings account, your family, your job or your “stuff”? All of that is fleeting but when we hope in the LORD we will not be disappointed. If our eyes are focused on Him, we will be better able to weather those surprises that come up behind us because we will then instinctively run to Him for comfort. I will close with a quote from a hymn that comes to mind:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.Refrain
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
May God richly bless you this day as you hope in Him!