I hate driving in Vancouver. I’ve only been there twice, but one of those experiences was bad enough to give me serious reservations about returning to the city. See, what happened was my wife and I were on a road trip up the West Coast, into Canada, and then through the Rockies to our final destination of Edmonton, Alberta. However, we had to drive through Vancouver, British Columbia.
We had stayed with family in Tacoma, Wash., and left that morning, intending to stay with other relatives in the Vancouver area. Our afternoon was spent making wrong turns, getting stuck in traffic, leaving messages on said relatives’ answering machine (turns out there was a miscommunication…they were out of town), and occasional bickering about what to do next. When we realized we didn’t have a free place to stay that night, we headed out of town to find cheap lodging. Suffice it to say, that day was probably the most frustrating day of our two-week vacation.
Life is full of metaphorical Lost-in-Vancouver experiences. We’re heading in what appears to be the right direction—on our way toward some destination—and miscommunication, wrong turns and other unforeseen circumstances leave us frustrated at best or disillusioned and despairing at worst. We think we’re doing everything right, but at the end of the day we’re left questioning ourselves and our abilities, sometimes questioning God. Why this? Why now?
In addition to my literal Lost-in-Vancouver experience more than a decade ago, I’ve had a number of the metaphorical sort, as well. About seven years ago, I was teaching in Los Angeles when I decided to attend a hiring fair for a school district in Ventura County. This district was closer to home and paid better, so I figured, “Why not?” I went from one interview to the next; and before the day was done, I had signed a contract for the following year.
Similar to navigating the streets of Vancouver, my experience the following year was frustrating and discouraging. Nothing seemed to go right; by the end of the year, I had resigned and was looking for a new job. I even considered leaving the teaching profession for good.
Later that summer, I found a new teaching job at a Christian school in Los Angeles, where I have received confirmation time and again this is right where God wants me. I’ve often wondered why I had to go through that hellish year to get where I am now, why I couldn’t have skipped that and come straight here.
I don’t know much, but I do know we rarely get answers to the why questions. I do know I am in good company with others who have had to endure long, trying times of discouragement before enjoying the fruits of our labor and God’s blessings on our efforts. The Bible is full of those who have been Lost in Vancouver, so to speak. Joseph endured years in prison before being elevated to his position in Pharaoh’s kingdom. Moses spent 40 years in the desert before he would deliver God’s people. Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning His ministry. Many before me have gone through much worse.
I also know God is more concerned with our character than our circumstances. He looks at the bigger picture; He focuses on the final product of the person we are becoming instead of the minute details of the daily trial we are facing.
He never promised this life would be easy, and He never said life would be fair or the road we walk would be free from obstacles. He promised always to be with us, even in the darkest of valleys and in the most discouraging of circumstances. He’s right beside us, especially when we feel so alone. He promised to give us the grace we need to face the most difficult challenges. Not too much, and not too little—just enough to face the obstacle right in front of us. He promised us the hope of a better tomorrow. That tomorrow might be a year away or more than a decade away. We may not see it in this lifetime, but only in the next; but we can hold on to the hope one day it will get better.
Ryan M. Blanck is a teacher and writer from Southern California. He is the author of Engaging the Media. You can find him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
