You Are No, Where God Is Not

Recently I remembered my first trip to Italy, where God took my faith to another level. When I spoke to Him, and He directed me. It was revelational!  

In the spring of 2018, I treated myself to a trip to Rome. Why Rome? To drink in its history and culture in person. I left Detroit Metropolitan Airport in the morning and stayed awake the entire flight. Excited about my visit to Rome, I watched movies and read.  

Arriving in Roma, I couldn’t wait to see the Coliseum, Vatican, and the many old churches throughout Rome. As soon as I got to my hotel room, I dropped my bags and headed out to take in some sightseeing. It was early afternoon. The sun was shining, and I was filled with so much anticipation. I went out to the street to make my way to the Vatican or Coliseum. The first sightseeing vendor suggested my best option was to go to the Vatican. He said, “the line is very long at the Coliseum right now, and you’ll need to get up early to enjoy the experience of the Coliseum.” 

I took his advice and went to the Vatican, and he escorted me to the train station. I get to the Vatican and enjoy the tour! The Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo was beautiful for lack of a better or more descriptive term. In that beauty, you just sat and stared because pictures aren’t allowed due to the flash fading the brilliance of the painting. I took more pictures of ceilings in the Vatican, just not the Sistine Chapel, than any place I’ve ever been. I mean, it was a visit of being surrounded by beauty, luxury, and history. 

My God, Moment in Rome! 

The time came to leave the Vatican. I returned to the train station, somewhat assuming I was getting on the train going in the direction of my hotel. After a few minutes, I felt like it was time to get off. So, I got off and began to walk, and nothing looked familiar! I kept walking, and then I started talking to the Lord, telling Him I needed a map! In the meantime, I kept walking, admiring the ancient architecture and the fountains; you can’t walk very far and not be arrested by the beauty of a fountain surrounded by sculptures. There are over 300 fountains in Rome. But still, I didn’t know what direction my hotel was; I said again, Lord, I need a map! I thought about jumping in a cab, but I wasn’t going to pay 50 euros to sit in a taxi, for something that may be a short walk! Again, I told the Lord I needed a map before the daylight turned to darkness!

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver and honor him. 

                                                                                                Psalm 91:15

Then deep within me came these words, “the phone.” I said, my phone! I Thought, will google maps work here? I opened my cellphone, went to maps, and yes, it showed my location. I put my hotel address in, and then I looked around for a street sign. Okay, no street signs that I could tell! I said, Lord, where am I? I looked up and noticed writing on the side of the building along with some numbers. Okay, I got my location! Then I got a lighted path to the hotel. I experienced immediate relief. I was no longer lost; praise Jesus!

 I arrived at my hotel quickly. It was like a foot tour. What became very clear to me that day is I am never alone; He is always with me (Hebrews 13:5 KJV)! Sure, I know God’s word is accurate, but in that moment of being lost, I called on the Lord, and He answered me (Psalm 120:1). This moment of practicing God’s presence set a tone in my life. Father God always has a lighted path for us (Psalm 119:105 KJV). But too many times in our lives, we think our way, not God’s way, and get lost in a situation. The trip to Italy serves to remind me of our nearness to Father God, who promises never to leave nor abandon us, and you don’t need to do anything but trust Him, especially when you’re exhausted from the trials of life or jet lag. 

Father God Has a Path for You

The other great thing about this lighted path, although google maps can tell you your distance and walk time. But my walk with God is light, and it is life! God’s lighted path doesn’t give an arrival time but guarantees light-Jesus is the way, the truth, and light (John 14:6KJV).