I Am

For whatever reason, I am having a hard time finding hope lately.  Yesterday morning I was very discouraged about my situation and there seemed to be nothing that could lift my spirits.  I was on the phone with my girlfriend and right before she began to pray for me, I glanced out at the traffic I was stuck in.  There was a dirty dump truck a car or two ahead of me.  You know when a car gets really dirty, someone will write "wash me" or something, this specific dump truck, I believe, was delivering a message to me from God.  In the dirt of its tailgate were the words, "I Am."

It was an eerie feeling actually, having God give me such a visible message.  It was almost too much for me to comprehend.  My boss already knew I was running late, and due to the particularly despondent mood I was in, I decided to follow the truck for a while (about fifteen minutes).  When my spirit was a little more intact from starring at the words "I Am" on the back on the dump truck, I figured it was time to get to work.  Coincidently, the truck veered off onto the highway at the exact same moment.  

I'm not out of the woods yet.  I still have serious needs to be met, but my inner spirit is stronger because I believe God cares for me.  Romans 5 says, "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  

I've heard that passage so many times that it almost lost its meaning.  Thankfully, I feel as if there is a scriptural revival in my head, where these amazing passages are being interpreted afresh.  They are life giving, like this one I read in 1 Peter today, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you (5: 6+7)."