“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” (Psalm 46:10)
View below Anna Ruby Falls, Helen, GA.
I’ve lived in a state of exhaustion for so long that it has become my new norm. While my day job will never be my life, having a high work ethic means that my days last as long as it takes to perform my duties to my elevated standards. With seven executives to support – one of whom is a C-level officer who travels nearly every week and holds back-to-back meetings all day, every day – there is no margin for error in what I do, or a chance to slow down. Hence, I typically work 50 to 60 hours a week.
A strong need to get away, coupled with a real concern that I would lose my vacation pay for the year if I didn’t use it, led me to try to take some time off a few weeks ago. I use the word “try” as I intended to take off two and a half days but ended up working all but one.
Still, David and I were able to spend a week in the northeastern Georgia mountains while I worked – a part of the state I had always wanted to visit but never traveled to on my own. With David, everything is different – even vacations.
Our rented cabin in the woods, Lakemont, GA.
As we discovered for ourselves, northern Georgia boasts several state and national parks, as well as 20 lakes, forests, and numerous hiking trails that traverse tranquil forests, cascading streams, magnificent waterfalls, and breathtaking mountains. Visiting in late October also allowed us to experience the vivid colors of fall foliage – something I hadn’t encountered in Georgia in the past 15 years, having lived along the state’s coastal region.
As the mountains came into view on our drive, I confess that my spirits lightened at the prospect of escape – and our journey had just begun. Stepping out of the car at our mountain cabin was like discarding a brick-laden backpack I hadn’t even realized I’d been carrying. As we walked our dogs along the dirt road that first evening, marveling at the beauty and tranquility of our northern retreat, I remember speaking quietly to David, not wanting to disturb the placidity of the woods with the sound of my voice.
Cascading waters below Anna Ruby Falls, Helen, GA.
“It’s so peaceful here,” I observed. “I love the silence.”
There’s something to be said about remaining quiet when I’m outside – absorbing the beauty of God’s creation. The outdoors has always been like a sanctuary to me. It’s where I feel closest to my Creator. Anything other than the sound of nature disturbs the worship that fills my heart as I hike in the woods, kayak in the marsh, or stroll along the sand. While I frequently listen to audiobooks while I’m doing yard work, I crave noiselessness when I’m outdoors. It almost seems blasphemous to speak when all creation is singing of God’s glory.
Woods along the Minnehaha Falls Trail, Chattahoochee National Forest, Lakemont, GA
While it was colder than we would have liked during our getaway (in the low 50s during the day and high 20s at night), with rain and wind filling five of the seven days we were there, we still made beautiful memories in the mountains. David and I were together in the felicity of God’s forest – feeling His presence and allowing the silent perfection of our surroundings to permeate our spirits.
Sure, we lost power twice during the week we were away – once over a five-hour interval in the pitch dark of the cold woods – yet that hardly mattered. We had shelter, candles, and a fire in a freestanding stove that we could huddle around together. I will never forget the blessed getaway and the joy my heart felt as we hiked several trails alone, experiencing the serenity of silence together.
While the nature of my job will always bring stress-filled days, I know how to let it go as I serve a Savior who promised to carry all my burdens. Psalm 55:22 reminds me to, “Cast [my] cares on the Lord and He will sustain [me]; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” I know how to lay it all down at His feet, and I have no problem doing so. Every time I do, He fills me with His peace, joy, and tranquility.
View from Black Rock Mountain along the Tennessee Rock Trail, Clayton, GA. The 80-mile view spans Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Whether I’m on the beach, in the woods, hiking in the mountains, digging in my yard, or just sitting on my porch, whenever I take the time to be still, I always feel God’s presence beside me. Nothing on earth is as powerful as our silent Creator, whose omnipotence will always speak more power than any trepidation the world may thrust upon us.
Chaos will always call. It’s up to us to silence the voice of disquietude and listen to our Almighty Father, instead. As the Psalmist, King David, told us, “Be still and know that [He] is God.” (chapter 46, verse 10). Our trip to the mountains serves as proof of the same.
David and I basked in the grandeur of God’s love as we sat alongside Minnehaha Falls in Tiger, GA.
In my last post, I wrote about the one-week jaunt David and I took to San Diego, CA. What I haven’t shared yet is how the Devil tried to attack us and steal our joy along the way.
Satan is tricky. There’s no doubt about that. Sometimes, the bombs he throws at us are debilitating and painful – a frightening medical prognosis, a vehicle accident, a lost job. Whack. Whack. Whack. The gut-punches take our breath away. We can feel the prize-fighting jabs even as we struggle to our feet and attempt to stand up in faith.
At other times, Satan ambushes us with more subtle and sinister assaults. Like a child banging on a pot with a spoon, the Devil may get under our skin by thunking us with little things – a disappointment, a harsh word from a friend, even a bad experience in rush-hour traffic. It makes no difference what he uses to bring us down. That’s always his goal.
Satan can’t strip us of our salvation. What he can do is stop our praise and service to Christ – and he will stop at nothing to do so. Whenever we take our eyes off our blessings and rest them squarely on our circumstances, he wins. We are often way too quick to forfeit our calm for his chaos. Every day, he works vigilantly to test us – and too often, we give in.
For me, the thunking began when we woke up in Colorado after our long layover. After spending the night at my mom’s house, David and I planned to eat breakfast, then zip to the airport for our 11:00 am Mountain Time (MT) flight that would have gotten us into San Diego by 2:00 pm Pacific Time (PT). We should have had plenty of time to grab our rental car, sightsee along the coast, and then drive an hour to settle into our vacation home long before dark.
Snowy mountaintops visible from our flight from Denver to San Diego.
Instead, I woke that Sunday morning to find that our flight had been delayed by four-and-a-half hours – without explanation. Apart from missing a half-day in San Diego, I knew right away that we wouldn’t be able to pick up our pre-paid rental car before the site closed for the day. My call to the agency advising them of our delay and plea for a later pick-up fell on deaf ears. I was told that no changes were allowed. The car couldn’t be held and picked up the following day.
Thunk. Satan’s blow hit my gut. I would lose my pre-paid rental fees with this turn of events. How was I going to react to this jab? The choice was up to me. And so, I began to pray.
While I was disappointed with the delay and additional expense of renting a new car, I was determined not to let it get to me. Even more so, I would praise God for the delay instead of getting upset. After all, we had extra time with my mom and brother, which was a tremendous blessing. I was also traveling to San Diego with my husband, which was a splendid reason to rejoice. David and I made the best of it and were soon on the ground in California, marveling at the three-story-tall palm trees and the promise of a new adventure. Yay, God!
David and me outside the San Diego airport at twilight.
Although this trip wasn’t a vacation, my remote work afforded me with the opportunity to start my day long before dawn in PT while keeping my regular Eastern Time zone (ET) hours. Starting early also gave us open afternoons to explore the area – an advantage we were more than happy to capitalize upon.
As a bonus, the three-day Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend afforded us a full, sunny day to tour the San Diego Zoo on Monday. After purchasing discounted tickets online, our next challenge was finding someplace to print paper tickets on a holiday in a city we’d never visited. And so, we prayed.
Thunk. It’s always something, I thought.
David and I loved hearing all about the San Diego Zoo’s inhabitants from atop a double-decker tour bus, included in the park’s admission.
Not easily deterred, I began searching online for an open office supply store somewhere near us. Praise God! We found one! Although the shop was across town, and I missed a few turns, our delay was nominal. We soon had our tickets and were on our way to the zoo.
Throughout the day, David and I thanked God continuously for the privilege of visiting this world-renowned zoological park. With this fantastic activity, we more than made up for our lost time on Sunday.
Then Tuesday happened. At precisely 8:00 am, we were shocked to hear the noise of a Bobcat tractor – grinding and beeping as it reversed gears just outside our condo window. Peering outside, we discovered cloudy skies, high winds, and a construction crew making back-and-forth passes between the interior courtyard and the street in front of us. As it turned out, our peaceful getaway spot had become a construction zone overnight, and the weather had taken a considerable turn for the worse.
Thunk. Thunk. Satan’s banging had started again.
Rather than getting angry, I prayed before penning a diplomatic letter to our property manager – including photos and videos of the construction activity. After complimenting them on our accommodations, I expressed disappointment at not being informed of the significant renovation work happening around us for the remainder of our stay. Much to my delight, we were given a generous return of a sizeable chunk of our vacation rental fees. Ultimately, the ordeal became one more item to thank God for in our noon-day prayers.
While watching the ongoing construction and deciding what we’d do on this less-than-perfect day, we met a fellow vacationer who advised us that we could see sea lions in an area not far from where we were staying. Despite the coolness of the afternoon and the cloudy weather, David and I were thrilled to walk roughly a mile and a half to see these hefty and humorous pinnipeds vying for space along a floating platform near the marina in Oceanside, CA. Had the weather been better and the construction not happened, we might never have encountered the neighbor who helped guide our unexpectedly happy afternoon. The victory belonged to God, yet again!
On Wednesday, we traveled to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and hiked up to the cliffs that make this area so scenic. While cloudy and cool during our hike, by the time we arrived at the picturesque “Beach Walk” trail and overlook, the skies had cleared to reveal a spectacular oceanside panorama that only a Divine Creator could orchestrate. The unique patterns carved into the natural sandstone cliffs by rain only added to the magnificence of this place.
Thursday being our warmest and sunniest day, David and I opted to travel down the coast to La Jolla to visit their unique claim to fame – the magnificent Seal Beach. Despite its name, this area is more highly populated by sea lions, cormorants, and pelicans. While I had been dreaming about this type of event for years, nothing could have prepared me for the experience of seeing such an abundance of wildlife in its natural habitat.
The sea lions along La Jolla beach congregate together along the cliffs.
After finding a rare parking spot along the main street, David and I caught our first glimpse of the La Jolla cliffs, which were teeming with pelicans and cormorants. With barely a foot or two between them, the birds rested on cliff faces and along the adjoining rocky shore walls. Whether the birds were preening, sunning, or showing off to potential mates, the rocks were brimming with seemingly hundreds of them. I could hardly thank God enough for this exceptional encounter with His magnificent creation in its native domain.
As we moved down the La Jolla Cove, the sea lions became more numerous – taking full advantage of the beautiful coastline to put on quite a show for David, me, and the hundreds of other tourists visiting this area. Oblivious to their onlookers, these pinnipeds went about their regular sea and shore activities – seemingly without a care in the world. From the napping sea lion on the beach whose head rested on a rocky pillow to the young pinniped raucously frolicking together along the rocky plateaus, the whole scene surpassed my wildest expectations. I could have sat and watched these animated creatures for days.
Remaining a safe distance away, I couldn’t help but capture this moment on the beautiful La Jolla Cove seashore with a sleeping sea lion behind my right shoulder.
As an avid wildlife enthusiast, I couldn’t get enough of the majestic biosphere in front of my eyes. Like a scene from a Discovery Channel documentary, something magical was happening everywhere I looked. Whether it was the large bull chasing other males away from his prized mating spot between the sandy shore and the jagged rocks or the adolescent youths who struggled to find the best haul-out locations along the rocky cliffs, I knew I had been given yet another gift from God in witnessing such grandeur.
As darkness descended, we reluctantly returned to our car only to discover that our leisurely half-hour return trip had grown to an estimated hour-and-a-half in crazy traffic. As David and I crept out of town, one slow street at a time, the tension in our car was palpable as we both had different ideas about which lanes to be in. I turned off the radio to concentrate even as David wanted to listen to music to relax.
And so, I began praying again. I could practically hear the Devil’s thunking as we crept out of La Jolla only to be blitzed by the frenzied drivers that sped along the six lanes of traffic with four merging arteries along the chaotic San Diego freeway. As traffic repeatedly surged and stopped several nerve-shattering times along the way, I couldn’t help but grip the steering wheel a bit tighter amidst all the chaos of a California rush hour.
Once we’d returned to our condo, I thanked God for our safe passage and silently told Satan I wasn’t going to let him steal the euphoria of our spectacular afternoon. We had been gifted another blessed day, and I wouldn’t let anyone or anything tarnish it.
Nothing can match the peace I felt watching the sun go down along the La Jolla beach.
On Friday, our last day, we stayed close to the condo – only venturing down to watch the local sea lions once more and take a long, slow walk along the beach. At this point in our journey, I felt incredibly privileged to have taken this trip despite its ups and downs. Seeing another part of the country, let alone the opposite seashore, was exhilarating – especially with my David.
The ebbing sunlight added even more beauty to the spectacular scenery above the cliffs at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
We were up at 4:00 am for an hour-long drive to the airport to begin our travel home on Saturday morning. Upon landing in Denver for another long connection before flying to GA, I ventured to check my rental car receipt only to find my final bill had more than doubled my initially quoted price—double thunk.
Supplemental insurance and roadside assistance had been mysteriously added to the bill against my wishes. Four phone calls, three messages, two texts, and an email later, someone finally called me back from the rental agency. After repeatedly assuring the agent that I’d expressly declined additional coverage, I was asked to email my insurance information so she could take up my case with her on-site manager. All this happened while I was sitting in the airport, miles from home, waiting for my connecting flight.
At this point, I was nearly at my wit’s end. Deprived of sleep, frustrated at the repeated challenges, and worried about a double charge on my account, I could feel the tears threatening to spill from my eyes as I told David I was tired of constantly fighting for everything. After hanging up the call, I stood up and melted into my husband as he caressed my back. Praying out loud in the A-concourse of the Denver International Airport, we asked God to give us the strength to get through our journey and amend this problematic situation. After saying “Amen,” I told David I needed to walk. So, walking we did.
Passing a bathroom, I stepped inside and purposely put on my red lipstick, dried my eyes, and returned to tell David that I was determined to be like Nancy Wake, the phenomenal, Australian-born WWII leader of the French resistance whose story I’d just finished reading. Whenever facing particularly challenging situations, Nancy always put on her lipstick. On one such occasion, Nancy explained her penchant to a fellow freedom fighter, reminding him that he’d never go into battle without his armor. For Nancy, her armor was her lipstick. At that moment – in addition to prayer – I was determined also to make it mine.
To my declaration, David hugged me anew and grabbed my hand, yelling for the entire airport to hear, “I love this woman!” His announcement made me smile and only furthered my resolve. With God’s help, we would get through this latest thunking.
And so, we did! Not long later, the rental car agent called me back to let me know they were refunding my overcharges. To that great victory, David and I threw up our joined hands to formally proclaim, “Yay, God!” to whoever cared to listen.
Not content to suffer defeat, the Devil tried to steal our victory again just a few minutes later—sneaky thunk.
As we prepared to board our connecting flight, we were greeted by a nasty gate agent who challenged the bag sizes of everyone carrying a personal item by forcing all of us to verify “to [her] satisfaction” that all bags were the proper size or pay an $89 gate fee. After removing many items from my small bag and adding them to David’s tote, we were finally on our way home. Many others whose personal items were sprawled out along the airport floor, desperately trying to make their bags fit the small space, were not so fortunate. They didn’t, after all, have David – and perhaps not even God on their side. I know I did.
And so, we made it home without any further incidents.
It’s taken me weeks to finish this blog due to my intense schedule and our return to VA Beach for David’s work on his house there again. Each time I can’t write, I feel Satan’s thunkings.
Nevertheless, not a day goes by when I am not incredibly grateful that I have a not-so-secret weapon to get me through the Devil’s attempts – the incredible power of prayer. It’s prayer and God’s guidance upon which I base every decision, every day, and every moment of my life.
God gifted us with this spectacular sunset while flying home from San Diego.
I am also a firm believer in putting on the armor of God each day – without which I could never stand. As Ephesians 6: 10-13 tells us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the Devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
I’ve learned firsthand that God’s armor can only protect me if I wear it. Without God’s protection, I’d never stand a chance of withstanding the enemy’s blows. Whether he chooses to throw nuclear bombs at me or subtle punches to take my eyes off my blessings, I will never let him win.
More importantly, I will never stop praying. God knows my heart and is aware of the battles I’ll face today – large and small – before they ever come my way. That thought gives me great comfort. I’d never make it through Satan’s thunkings without it.
