“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Recently I travelled by van with my wife and four sons to Newfoundland.  That is where I grew up as a boy and a teenager.

Every turn that I took on that great island was a reminder of where I came from.  I saw it in my relatives’ faces.  I saw it in the house that my father built for us when we were young.  I heard it in my 88-year old grandmother’s prayer that she prayed for me as I left her, perhaps for the last time.

I stood in places where my memories are the oldest.  Some of those memories were good and some not so good.  I shared the good and bad places with my wife and sons.

Many of my early fears came back to visit me.  I saw the day my parents broke up.  I saw the days that I had to travel 10 hours by bus between my parents, crying as I left one to get to the other.  I saw the days that I played with my young cousin and I saw the days that I was bullied in school.

Each memory I tossed over and over in my mind, trying to hear God’s voice in the midst of it.  I wanted to hear Him say that I was where He wanted me to be.

But what I think I heard was that life is a journey and that the places that we visit along the way are refining stations where God has His way with us.  Once again I was reminded that life is a journey and that we are like sojourners travelling between here and heaven.  We don’t know what to expect along this journey but we do know that God is in control.

There are days that we cry out to God because we do not know how we are going to get around the next turn.  And then the next turn comes and is gone and we are still somehow moving forward into places we have never been before.

I found myself praying for courage as my van travelled the 7000 kilometers that I drove between my new home in Ontario and my ancient home of Newfoundland where many generations of my people lived.

With four young sons and plenty of hardships thrown our way, prayer was often our only way forward.

And then I thought to myself “Isn’t that really the essence of life!”  We have no idea what we are going to face.  We expect a beautiful view around every turn and yet there are times that view is mixed with hardship.

My deepest prayers were not for others on that journey but for myself.  I prayed that the Lord would keep us from evil and that we would make it to our destinations safely.  I was always feeling somehow away from home and lost.  When you and your family and vehicle are 3000km from home you can feel overwhelmed and anxious.  Yet God had us in His hands all the time. He kept reassuring me that my family and I were alright and that we were going to make it home–and we did.

And His promise for you in Christ is that even when you face hardships and trials of many kinds, you will make it home.  Home is heaven and we are wayward travellers—strangers in a strange land.

I pray today that God will reassure you of His promises and plans for your life as you advance toward your destiny.