Have you ever had a day planned, but then something happened and everything changed? Disruptions to our lives are usually never welcome.

Yesterday, a huge disruption occurred for me. I had my day completely planned. I was going to relax, clean, and pack for my upcoming trip to Charlotte, North Carolina. I cannot express the excitement as I thought about attending the She Speaks Conference through Proverbs 31. I was pondering all the amazing teaching I will hear that will better equip me to minister to women who are hurting, seeking, and lonely, as I packed. Then, I saw my passport. Yikes! It expired this past January. I had sworn it was good until the end of the year.  The realization that I would be unable to fly without my passport or Real ID dawned on me. I quickly conducted some research, grabbed all the required documents, and rushed to the DMV closest to me. Upon my arrival, I realized the location only mailed the ID. Since I needed it that day, a quick Google search told me the closest facility for a same-day Real ID was an hour and a half away. I set out for the new location, praying as my anxiety went from one to one hundred. Seeds of doubt began running through my head. “There is no way you are getting your ID today. You aren’t going to the conference.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 ran through my head, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

On arrival, the line was out the door. The employee who screened the documents struck fear into me as he said that they may not accept my marriage certificate as a change of name document. I sat for three hours waiting. Praying. And reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis to pass the time and distract my mind. As I sat there, I tried to be thankful for the time to read, that I realized my mistake in time, and other praises throughout the day. The Lord even presented the opportunity to assist a Hispanic man with his license application. As someone who has lived in another country, I know too well the anxiety of reading and understanding another language. Finally, it was my turn. Praise God, I had the proper documents (that employee scared me for no reason), and I walked out with my ID.

Unfortunately, we can be certain that disruptions will occur, and when they do, we have a responsibility as to how we will respond. My anxiety was through the roof. I prayed through it, and because of that, I was able to look outside of my situation and be used by God to help another. My response was a result of my relationship with the Lord that I have nurtured throughout the years. Even though I still struggled with anxiety, without my faith, I would have been much worse. I had a foundation greater than myself to stand on.

How about you? When disruptions occur in your life, how do you respond? Share your story to encourage others.