Far More Than We Expected

The temperature was above 90 degrees on day three of our two-week road trip. We were heading to my sister’s place in the Nevada desert. Once we turned off freeways to state highways with two lane roads, the drive became tedious. Heavy rains that morning didn’t help. The last three miles were dirt roads—bumpy, and full of relentless washboard ruts and mud. The best we could do was low gear and five miles an hour. Thirty minutes of jostling, slow, and focused driving finally got us and our 5^th wheel to the RV campground.

The Unexpected Happened

To our dismay there was no available site to pull into. Why? Frustration levels rose. The reservation was made three months ago and confirmed earlier that week. What happened? Pulling out my cell phone, I dialed the office.

What do you do when the winds of life blow a tumbleweed across your plans? The last thing we’d expected to happen that day happened. To their credit, they felt bad and vowed to fix the problem. But it would take time. Since it was hunting season, the men who’d parked in the space meant for us were out scouting for deer. Waiting in 95-degree weather wasn’t an acceptable solution.

While We Wait God is at Work

Wanting to make things right, the owner graciously asked us to follow him back to his main lodge where we could wait in the shade and enjoy cold drinks. We were eager to do so.

Several hours later the hunters came back. None were happy about being asked to move their trailers. Where to park our trailer was not getting any easier. Ron, the owner, kept assuring us he’d get us settled somewhere. That’s when an idea came to us. Why not let us stay near the lodge? He was receptive to the suggestion. “Sure. That’s possible. I can get a long extension cord so you have electricity and you can hook up to my garden hose.” At last, we felt we were settling in for the night.

An Awareness of Blessings

The next day we drove out to my sister’s place five miles up another dirt road with bigger ruts and deeper puddles. On the return trip we passed the RV campground. A sense of being blessed came over us. There were no trees to offer shade and the sites were so close together.

What began as being unhappy over not having our expected site, turned to thankfulness that we weren’t parked there. God had given us a greater blessing. Our makeshift site had two big shade trees, quiet surroundings, and plenty of room for our folding lounge chairs. The gentle afternoon breeze reminded us of just how good an unexpected change of plans can be.

God Often Gives More Than We Expect

With God, nothing is impossible. Somehow, in the depths of life’s disappointments, He cares about the smallest details of our lives. When we don’t know what to do, He does. Most often His thoughts become far more than we could ever have expected. I can’t explain why we didn’t get to park in our reserved site that day. But I do know God was watching, and His better plan showed up when ours hit a dead end. Our Heavenly Father never tires of granting blessings.

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.