Growing up we spent our days on the lake. There were six of us kids and the lake was a short walk from home. In the summer we would pack a lunch in the cooler, and all stroll down the street to the lake to spend the day. My favorite summertime lunch was the peanut butter and jelly sandwich that had gotten squished flat in the cooler by the heavy soda cans and was super cold now from the ice – not soggy – just flat and cold.

Most days traveling is quite uneventful and creates the perfect atmosphere for worship and prayer. I spend a lot of my time on the road enveloped by introspection and then talking to God about it. However, I always start any trip with a prayer of “Lord keep me safe, bless my vehicles, help me to be a good safe driver and keep the terrible drivers away from me.” Never had that prayer become so important and relevant than on this trip, and never had I visibly seen the answer to that prayer – until today.

I had noticed earlier that there were many more tractor and trailers on the interstate than usual, and I was staying cautious to let them rule the road. Even still, for most of that long stretch between Nashville and Little Rock, I found myself sandwiched between two of the 18-wheel giants front to back. We were moving along the I40 at a steady pace, and I was deeply involved in my thoughts, when the traffic came to a dead stop in front of me with absolutely no warning. Just as I was unwinding out of a slight curve all I saw were lit up taillights and they were terrifyingly close. It took some thrifty maneuvering to get stopped without locking up my brakes and keeping my pull behind from pushing me into the box end of the truck I had been following. I was applying pressure to the break – almost standing on them, as they say – and I heard the most horrifying screech and roar. I panicked at the sound of squalling brakes because I had just had new ones put on the front 5 days earlier. I was worried they were faulty – funny how we always go to the negative scenario, rather than being thankful I had just put new ones on. Maybe that’s just what new brakes sound like when you stand on them, I consoled myself. But either way through the noisy protest they did the job, and I came to a stop just shy of too close for comfort. As I was coming to an abrupt jerky stop, I caught a glimpse of some movement in my peripheral on my right side – which was a bit alarming considering I was in the outside lane! Once stopped completely, one of those giant road hogs strolled up right next to me on the right side – on the shoulder of the road. It was the rear to my trucker sandwich I had been strolling along in. In that moment I realized it was him – his brakes were yelling and terrifying everyone, especially me. He apparently was unable to stop without turning my dodge truck and Jayco into a red and white sardine can between himself and the truck in front, so he took to the shoulder – a gutsy, benevolent move! All I could think about was one of those squished, ice cold PBJ’s that I loved so much, and how I almost became one today! That truck driver saved my life, his life, and possibly numerous other lives through his bold quick-thinking driving skills. He was the answer to my prayer of not having bad drivers around me and boy was I glad! Those kinds of answers will bring your praise on! The trucker was getting his praise on too!

Continuing down the road praising, talking to God about what had just happened and asking favor and blessings on my valiant truck driver, I realized some things that will stick with me for good – I hope.

While pulling my Jayco, I cannot see anything in my rear-view mirror. If at that very moment of plangent roar, I could have seen what was going on behind me I know I would have tried to help by moving in a different direction, which would have changed the whole outcome and most assuredly would have caused it to end poorly – I may have caused the death of myself and my angel trucker. I could hear the roar, but I could not see it. It was at my back, and I could not do anything about it – I had to depend on God, blindly, to protect me – and He did.

I thought of my past. It makes a loud roar sometimes in my thoughts, screaming words of failure and disappointments. I can hear it some days so loud that it drowns out any hope of the future. Its incantations are convincingly demoralizing. Yet, I cannot see it. It is done, laid to rest, completed, forgiven, under the blood – still I can hear it howling, spewing its’ hullabaloo trying to disrupt my peace.

But today this truth was learned:

God knows my memoir – the roar is in vain.

God has my back – my help is in vain.

In Ephesians chapter 6 we learn about the armor of God. There is nothing for the back. Nope, not needed – God has our backs!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” — Ephesians 6:10-17

Now I want an ice-cold squished peanut butter and jelly sandwich!