(Have you ever read the story of Mrs. White’s dream called: “Travelling the Narrow Way?” You can read it in the Review and Harold January 12, 1869, and also in Life Sketches of Ellen G. White page 190. Christian Burdahl has made an inspiring CD in which he reads this dream along with remarks and songs that express each principle. I am so fortunate to have that CD. I have played it in my truck over and over again. The following story is based on this most remarkable dream).
If you read my last story, you are probably wondering how I got back home, if driving out was such a problem. Well that was exactly my thoughts also, because it seemed to be raining the entire time we had been gone. ChaDree, MaNew and I were on a 6 hour bus ride from Chiang Mai to MeDooGlow. As our bus got closer to MeDooGlow where my truck was parked, the rain came down harder.
Now I see we have three options:
1. Get in the truck and see how far we go before getting stuck.
2. Leave the truck where it is and walk.
3. Stay with the kind little grandma until the weather clears.
Now I do not like any of these options, but reality pushes me into making a decision.
I pray and then I hear this:
“Remember,” the voice in my brain said, – “The obstacles that hinder our progress, will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. …Faith courageously urges an advance, hoping all things, believing all things!”
I also think about ChaDree and the young man who came with him. They are struggling to know God and what better way for them to see His goodness and His power, then to have them be eye witnesses to His deliverance from the terrible roads. Besides, if you do not go forward and step into the raging torrent, God cannot part the ocean or do any mighty works for you. Now I feel good about option #1, minus the “Stuck” part! But in my heart I know I will never make it unless God helps me through.
I call BletJaw. He is coming to BYT also, but by motorbike from the opposite side and says it is raining really hard in Meta. He has a young man with him that will help him push the bike on the muddy up-hills, but he is more concerned for me because there is no pushing that truck around to make it go where you wish. I tell him that we will just pray for each other and forge ahead!
Now the rain is really coming down. ChaDree gets in the front seat and the young man, MaNew, is in the back. I prayed and then asked ChaDree to pray. It was the first time I ever heard him pray! I am so happy and perfectly calm now. I turn on my CD so I can listen to Christian Burdahl read Mrs. Whites vision, “Travelling the Narrow Way.” I wish you could have been with me, as we drove up the first terrible muddy incline. I had been following in the tracks of another truck, but suddenly I did not want to follow where those tracks had gone, -off the road and into a huge rut. The mud was churned up terribly. They must have had a hard time getting out. We were definitely pulled up that mountainside by an angel because it was real messy. Next time we came to an impossible looking steep place, I heard Christian Burdahl read:
“We continued on greatly fearing as we came to the narrower places in the road, that we should lose our balance and fall. At such times a hand seemed to take the bridal and guide us over the perilous way.”
Oh what joy! It is God’s perfect timing to put those words in my ear just exactly when I needed it. I could just feel His hand on me! We made it up that rugged part just fine – “Thank you God,” I whispered, “You did that, not me!” But out loud to ChaDree, I said, “God is so good!” in Karen. He understood, smiled a big smile and heartily agreed.
God’s presence was real and palpable as we progressed to yet another difficult ascent. The moment I first saw it looming up ahead of me, this is what I heard:
“We have hold from above! We have hold from above! Our only hope is to trust wholly to the cord, it has been our dependence all along the difficult way – He will not fail us now. He has brought us thus far safely!”
Again confidence and love for my Saviour flooded my heart. Oh friends! Is all we need is Jesus! What love! He is beside us at all times, instantly ready to give us physical and mental relief from whatever calamity we find ourselves in! What capabilities and powers are His!
Looking ahead I see more messed up mud bogs. The rain is still pelting down, but I hear:
“Our path ended.” And Christian said, “Yes friends, there’s an end to the path. There’s an end to all the trials and all the tribulations we suffer. It’s coming to an end! Hold on just a little bit longer!”
Yes, when I think about it, this road into BYT is a dead end road. Our village is at the end of the road and our house is at the farthest end of the village, and we did arrive safely that day at the end of the path, praising God!
I am definitely not a good driver in these conditions, and not good in many other ways as well, but I just read this beautiful quote: “God will accept whole – hearted service, and will Him-self make up the deficiencies.” (Ministry of Healing page 150)
Thank you precious Saviour!