We’d had a wonderful time. My daughter Erika, grand-girl, Emily, and I, drove 350-some miles to attend a baby shower for another grand-girl, Sarah. We had an entertaining time, eating, and oohing and ahhing at the sweet gifts she’d received for her soon-to-be-born baby boy.

It was a warm day in eastern Washington, but there was a light breeze to keep us cool. The breeze began to rustle even more and even popped some of the balloons that were part of the decor in the park shelter where the shower was being held.

We had a more than 5 hour drive back home so it was soon time to leave. The wind picked up even more and we could feel the push against our car as we drove along the 70 mile an hour speed limit.

I’d seen the warning sign driving to Spokane and wondered about it. It said: “Dust Storm Area.” It was a clear robin’s-egg-blue-sky above and returning on the road home, I again saw the warning sign. I felt the car buffeting in the breeze that was turning into a serious push. My daughter was driving and I looked out at the desert-like farmlands and dirt roads in the distance and saw the dust rising up. And all of a sudden, we were in this:

We could not see. It was like a brown blizzard. We moved onto the shoulder of the road, put on our hazard lights and sat there. For and hour and a half, we waited, wondering if we’d need to stay there all night until the storm abated. We couldn’t see more than six feet ahead of us and as we waited, we prayed we wouldn’t get hit by another car. Several ambulances cried with their sirens and meandered through the stopped traffic. Giant SUV–like emergency trucks came through on the roadsides, tilting on the steep grade of the road ditches. The wind buffeted our car as we sat there. While we waited, I called Jim and asked him to pray. I texted our home group and asked them to pray.

Finally, a deputy sheriff signaled the stopped cars to move forward, slowly. As we drove, I glanced out to my right where several cars sat on the side of the road with buckled hoods.

And then, just like that, here’s what we saw:

Yes. A clear road. No dust, just sunshine and clear skies. As we drove out of the dust storm, we saw many more crashed vehicles and two 18-wheelers smashed. We saw the road going north, was closed and they were diverting traffic to a side road and wondered how many people were injured. Later, we read there was one fatality.

I’ll never look at a warning sign the same way.

Just as the Dust Storm Area warned us about possible storms, there are warnings in the Bible. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus warned the disciples: Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41), or Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21), or I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world (2 John 1:7).

One of my favorite passages is in Proverbs where it says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). 

I’ll never question the sign about dust storms when I see them. As well, I want to make sure I pay attention to what God tells me in his Word. Sometimes they are warnings. Other times, they give comfort and security.

What about you? Have you been in a scary situation where you weren’t sure you’d get out of it safely? Or even alive?

I’m glad I’ve got One to go to when I’m scared. When I’m sick. When I’ve said or done something that is wrong and I need to ask for forgiveness. I love this verse:

Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper (Psalms 37:3).

Whatever happens during our days, we need Jesus! Or I sure do. I love this old hymn sung in a more contemporary way. I hope you take the time to listen to it.

Happy first Friday in June!

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