Several years ago, I was returning home from a business trip. While driving alone, down a very long highway, I was thinking about how comfortable the day was. The sun was shining and it wasn't too hot, or cold. It was beautiful! Then suddenly, I drove right into rain.

As I drove from one little town into the next, the rain became a storm. I noticed that some cars were moving real slow, while others had completely stopped and parked off the highway.

I recall having my radio blasting, just enjoying some good praise music, but as I continued in the stormy weather, I began to turn the music down. I felt as if I couldn't think, or hear the rain good enough. Refusing to pull over, I kept moving forward at a slow and steady pace. I was still pretty confident because I was familiar with this highway, and I knew my exit was many miles away.

A few miles up the road, the rain intensified. By this time, I had turned the radio down so that I barely heard anything. For some reason, I had a need to concentrate on the storm. I remember praying and thanking God for His protection, while at the same time, wondering how much further I had to go before the storm let up.

I passed more cars that had pulled over, because at this point, the rain was beating down so hard I could barely see the headlights. Just as I passed this group of cars, I drove right into sunshine, with no rain, not even a sprinkle.

Right then, the Holy Spirit spoke a wonderful short sermon to me. See, the highway I took on my journey home, was the right one. I started out feeling really good; singing, praising and enjoying the Lord and the ride. Then all of a sudden, I drove right into rain, on the same road, but at a different point. The Holy Spirit commended me on my refusal to stop, even though I didn't know how long the storm would last, but He reprimanded me for turning down my praise. He asked me, " Why did you fear to the point of quieting your praise to God? It was just a storm, God didn't change, nor did He go anywhere."

I could have enjoyed continuous fellowship with the Lord, but my focus was switched and I began to concentrate on the wrong thing. Besides that, I couldn't stop the rain from falling.

We have to realize that difficult times (storms) will come, we can't escape them. Nevertheless, they are not lasting, there is an end. For me, in this particular storm, the hardest rain was towards the end. As I was coming out, others were entering at the worst point.

Later on that day, I thought about how I could have stopped for a moment, to tell those people who had pulled over, to keep going because just a couple of miles up the road, the weather is endurable.

When you find yourself in a storm, the most important thing to remember is, keep your focus on God's Love For You. He sees and knows it all. God has also given you the ability to travel through light rain, heavy rain, and even desert dryness. It may be at a slow, careful pace, but never ever pull off the road, if you know you're going in the right direction.

If you're not sure about the direction you're going in, check your map, (that is the bible) pray and get godly counsel. God will show you where you are.

Amy Blount