Yesterday traffic was backed up on the way into work because of an accident. A red Monte Carlo had deposited itself wheels up in the median. For me it was a very minor inconvenience. I work weird hours anyway so no one even noticed that I got to the office 10 minutes later than I planned.

But for whoever was in the Monte Carlo I’m sure it was a pretty big deal. The whole thing probably messed up their day pretty badly.

It is amazing how quickly things can change in life. And unexpectedly too. I’m sure that driver didn’t wake up and think, “maybe today I could upend my car in the median. That would be a trip!” Yet he ended up dangling from the seat belt a bit before 9 AM just the same.

The truth is we don’t know what the day will bring. The Bible says that it isn’t our place to know (as much as we want to!) James tells us

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Life is a fleeting thing. That’s a good motivation to make the most of today. But it could also be pretty stinking depressing. I mean how are we supposed to go on with the knowledge that it all could turn to disaster at any moment?

Is our only hope to adopt Chuck Noland’s philosophy?

“I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. And who knows what the tide could bring?”

That’s the way most folks look at life. They think that if they keep breathing long enough, they might get lucky and something good just might happen to them. Maybe fate will smile at them one day. They invent some hope to cling to. Otherwise life would just seem too pointless to carry on.

The good news is that life doesn’t have to be that hopeless. We can have hope for a fulfilled and meaningful life. Even though the uncertainty remains, we can know peace. Jesus said

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

If Jesus overcame death and walked out of the tomb they buried him in, then He has the authority needed to offer us actual hope for a life full of meaning and purpose.

And that is a genuine encouragement whenever we find ourselves hanging upside down in the median of life.

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There are occasional moments when I have this overwhelming feeling that all is right in the world.

Now before you get all hot and bothered, I know there is still war, murder, starvation and all kinds of evil and suffering happening. I don’t live in la-la land.

But every once in a great while I just know that it is going to be OK.

This evening Gorgeous had a conference call so I went out to the store to get some milk, eggs, and other needful things. As I walked out the door to the car there was a surprising absence of gnats. I could hear the chuk-chuk-chuk of sprinklers in the neighborhood as the sun was starting to go down. A lawn mower was running a few blocks away.

It was peaceful.

It was like God was telling me, “Everything’s under control. Enjoy your evening. Have a good night’s rest tonight. I’ll keep an eye on things. In the morning we’ll talk.”

Gorgeous and I still have the same stresses in our lives. We still tons of problems and gobs of unknowns.

But it’s like God told the prophet Jeremiah

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Life is messy. Jesus himself said that we will always have problems. I like the way The Message puts it

I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.

It is reassuring to know that God has a plan. And if He’s the planner then I bet it’s a pretty stinking good one! Couple that with the fact that Jesus conquered the biggest problem I can ever face when he came up out of that tomb that first Easter morning and you begin to see why I can say it.

All is right in the world.

Enjoy!

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