Ruth Clemence – Writer and Blogger

It was a modern-day nightmare. I’d spent the night in London after attending a conference, and realised that I’d left my phone charger at home when I got to the hotel. Not to worry. I was hopeful the life of my phone would hold on until I returned.

On the homeward journey, I arrived at London Paddington Station where crowds were forming. A general sense of unease hit me. All the departure boards were blank. There was no information for any destinations. People gathered under those boards in expectation, but there was no sign of change anytime soon. Police officers were around answering questions from disgruntled travellers. They only shared minimal information but it was not looking good.

The evening was fast upon us and I was wondering how late the trains would run, if and when they resumed. I remembered my phone was gradually losing battery. What a day to forget to bring a charger. Far from worrying about social media, browsing Google or perusing Amazon, I wanted my phone to serve its original purpose: to make a phone call to communicate. I phoned my husband with a brief update and then said I would save my battery and hunt for a charger at the station.

Kindness of strangers

The departure boards did eventually light back up. One train here. Another there. There were desperate scenes of dozens and dozens of people running to the train in hope to get on board to go home. This shared experience of confusion and panic drew me and another traveller together. He was following updates on his phone and the humour we shared helped time to pass that little bit faster.

It was getting later and later. My fellow stranded passenger and I darted for a train that he was confident was the right one. They say don’t talk to strangers, but right now I was running alongside one in the hope his information was right. When we got to the train, the conductor wasn’t 100% sure where that train was going! He recommended another train on another platform so we were running AGAIN! Readers, be assured that watching me run at the best of times is a sight to behold, but this was something else…

The time was ticking with two minutes until this train was set to depart to Cardiff. At the ticket gate, I said goodbye to the guy who shared this frantic experience with me. This would not be the train he needed, and I felt a sadness saying goodbye and leaving him behind on the platform. It seemed unfair that I had a train after waiting with him for so long. But I was finally homeward bound and so thankful for the help of a kind stranger.

As expected, there were no seats available on board as the train was heaving. Unexpectedly, another stranger stepped in and gave up his seat for me. An act of kindness after a difficult start to the journey brought relief and blessing wrapped up in a bow. All I could do was say thank you so much and smile. It felt like a small token for what was a big gesture to my weary body. I will never forget how the Lord brought two strangers into my life at the right time to help me endure the uncertainty and fear I felt.

Standing room only

Recently, I found myself on another packed train, this time with no one giving up their seat. Don’t worry, I didn’t expect it or have a sense of entitlement. However, seeing the number of women standing in the aisle and the number of men sat down engrossed on their devices, with one man even draping his leg on his spare seat, made me reflect on the unfortunate loss of chivalry in society.

On this particular journey, there was flooding on one of the tracks. Our train had to stop and wait for another train to pass before the driver said that we would have to travel on the opposite track to continue our journey forward. We would be on the wrong track. I imagined what would happen if another train didn’t get the message that we were using their line and we collided. The imagination of a writer and an anxious passenger…

But as the train began to move, I reflected on how all I could do was trust the driver. I could trust the driver to make the decision to go on the other line and notify all the other trains. He had the knowledge and experience. There was nothing that I could do in that moment but trust the driver. This is faith in action.

Just like the many unknowns in life with different directions and possibilities, I have learnt by God’s mercy and grace, to place my faith and trust in Jesus in times of uncertainty. He knows the end from the beginning and everything in between. When things don’t make sense to me – like going on the opposite track – there is still purpose behind it. I might not have the perspective to see where it leads, but I can trust that God sees it all, and me situated in the midst of it. It would be far more dangerous to stay on the track that leads to flooded waters. The driver knew what to do. Jesus also knows what He is doing. We can be confident that He will direct us because He has already rescued us from ultimate peril on the cross.

Jesus has taken me off the wrong track and placed me firmly in the right direction more times than I’d like to admit in my life. I may try and change tracks without Him, but so often that results in a train wreck of my mind and heart. Yet no damage is too big for the Divine Driver to work through. Often it is by walking through trials and suffering that bring us back onto the right track. It helps our faith to grow. Trials prepare us for the ultimate purpose of making us mature in faith and more like Jesus. Faith produces endurance.

As it is written in James 1:2-4:

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

The final destination

We overcame the flooded tracks. As people got off at the next stop, I finally found a seat. This welcome relief was short-lived before an announcement was made for every passenger to vacate the train.

Really…? I just found a seat!

Once again I was standing in a crowd of desperate people, huddled on a platform between two tracks, standing around the departure boards for updates. This time it was freezing cold on the platform and evening once again loomed nearer. I was moving from one foot to another to keep warm and relieve my aching feet that had only just managed to feel the weight temporarily lifted. Turns out the second part of the journey was affected by a fallen tree on the line.

Eventually, when a train arrived, I ended up standing (again) in first class and spent the final ten minutes of my journey seated there. This is what first class feels like? I soaked up those last miles with gratitude.

The Christian life is one of endurance. We have God’s Word in the Bible that are like the rails that direct our steps; His Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path (Psalm 119:105). It is is like an information board that contains the crucial information about our departure. Our final destination matters. Where we get off on the journey matters. Will we stand around on a platform anxiously waiting, or will we receive the good news that Jesus has secured for us an eternal home?

The direction of travel has already begun. One person’s life journey may be long or short. Do not let today pass you by without conversing with the Driver. Jesus Christ has made a way for every single person to come to Him in faith, trusting in His forgiveness and mercy toward us. The cross is the gateway to life. If we trust in Jesus Christ giving His life for our sins and taking the punishment our sins deserve, we are destined to be with Him forever. He actually makes His home with us now by His Holy Spirit, so we never have to journey through this life alone.

Jesus can take the wreckage of our life and restore it, giving us new, everlasting life with Him. His love, forgiveness and grace propel us onward through this journey of life. Without Him, we are like a train without a driver, a track where the signals are out, a station of chaos and confusion. For the follower of Jesus, no matter what happens in our circumstances, nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-39).

Trusting the Driver

Sometimes it can feel as if we are stranded at a station. Waiting for direction on what to do next, we gaze at the information boards society tells us and listen attentively to the speakers of this age for answers to life’s deepest questions.

How do we get home?

God does not leave us stranded or guessing. We don’t have to join the crowds in uncertainty and aggravation. We simply trust the One who knows more than we do – who knows us more than we know ourselves.

Journeys can be complex, much like life. Yet, with Jesus, we are looked after at every point in His loving care. We can trust Him, even in our trials and suffering, because He is not only the Driver. He is also familiar with being a Passenger like us too. He walked the earth that led to a journey that led to a cross of suffering and a horrific death. He endured deep trials for our sake. Yet, His direction and destination secured our own.

Jesus paid the ultimate price of our train ticket. Unlike the rising cost of train travel, it cost Him everything. But He did it all to bring us home with Him forever. We can now rest and enjoy the journey in Him, today and always.