The Sunday Sermonette – Being Lost is Frightening.

In the last years of my dear mother’s life, her mind slipped away day by day. I could hear it in what she said, see it in what she did, and recognized it in what she no longer remembered. Oft times, she didn’t know who I was, but never stopped thanking me for watching over her. She always hugged me, saying, “What would I do without you?” There were times, however, when she wouldn’t go to sleep. I found driving her around was the only thing that eventually lulled her to sleep. During those drives, I often saw the sun set and rise again.

One night, one long night, I drove to Bay St. Louis, turned south toward town, then drove down to Waveland—then into the unknown. As I drove, I turned onto streets that I didn’t know existed. I turned this way and that, then kept driving west until I realized there were no streetlights and no traffic. The darkness of the night closed around us, as did my intense fear that Mom and I were totally lost. Panic crouched in the recesses of my mind.

In those days, I didn’t have a smartphone, and my old Lexus had no navigation system, only a digital compass. I kept twisting and turning north, knowing that Interstate 10 would eventually come into view. When it did, it was like an old friend beckoning us home.

The fear of getting lost is known as Mazeophobia. People with it are often seized with intense fears of being in unfamiliar places without a sense of direction or control. Feeling lost can trigger a range of psychological responses.

The adrenaline surge that panic creates can cloud a person’s judgment and lead to irrational decisions, like me driving around helter-skelter, getting nowhere fast. Once I recognized that maintaining a level head was best, I discovered that coping with the challenge of being lost in the wilderness beyond Waveland became easier. Remembering several Bible verses helped quell my fear, as well.

Isaiah 41:10 states: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Read that again slowly. Father God isn’t saying, “Try harder.” He isn’t saying, “Figure it out.” He is saying, I am with you. He is saying, I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will hold you up.

Hebrews 13:5 states: “For He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” Read that again slowly, too. This verse calls for Christians to anchor their security in Father God’s unwavering presence rather than in the fleeting fragility of material things.

The word “never” is powerful, absolute, and unconditional. God’s presence in your life is not dependent on how you feel, how many times you’ve stumbled, or how far you think you’ve wandered. He will be with you on the mountain tops and in the valleys, during your victories and your failures, in the seasons of abundance and the seasons of drought.

In this maddening, frightening kaleidoscope we call life, you can feel lost and overwhelmed. Whether you’re facing a difficult season, walking through uncertainty, feeling lonely in a crowded room, or lost in Waveland, there’s a truth that has the power to change everything: God is always there. Not just occasionally. Not just when things are going well. But there with you, always.

When you feel lost, remind yourself to say: “Father God, I know you are with me. Hold me close.” Carry this reminder with you through each day and let it anchor you when life overwhelms you.

The sun was peeking through the azure-blue, tangerine, morning clouds when Mom and I finally drove into our driveway. At long last, she was droggy. Once I dressed her for bed and got into it, she looked at me with a sweet smile and said, “I enjoyed our ride. You driving’s good.” I kissed her, looked toward heaven, and whispered, “Thank you, Father God, for never leaving us or forsaking us.”

Ponder this and go forth.