Traveler's Tales: Does God Want Me to Take This Trip?

How can you tell if God wants you to take a trip?

My fear of flying has finally been grounded but I still run through a gamut of emotions when it comes time to plan a trip.

I’ve frequently allowed my love of travel–it’s genetic for my family–to get ahead of my prayer life and I’ve volunteered to take a trip before praying.

That often leaves me scrambling to match my spiritual peace-of-mind, to my non-refundable already purchased tickets.

My poor husband has been plagued too many times with my fearful question: “Do you think God wants me to take this vacation?”

Our big 2010 trip was to Italy–a promised gift to celebrate our daughter’s high school graduation. That seemed straight forward enough–return to my family’s homeland. We could savor Italian cuisine and slip over the border into Slovenia to finally meet my husband’s relatives in his ancestral homeland.

I borrowed my niece’s Italian language book, practiced mi lengua skills and ciao! We were ready.

Except a month before we left, my husband and I received a glorious invitation to our godson’s August wedding–in Brasov, Transylvania, Romania.

I went to the obvious course of action first: could we extend our Italian trip and go to the wedding?

Uh, our Italian trip ended June 14 and the wedding wasn’t until August. Sorry.

But a wedding in Romania? How often would that opportunity arise?

My husband didn’t want to go. Strike one.

My daughter was headed to Nicaragua on a mission’s trip in July and didn’t want to go. Strike two.

I couldn’t justify a second trip to Europe in one summer (after only visiting once in the previous 25 years) just for me and I certainly didn’t want to travel by myself . . . but if I met up with the parents of the groom and went with them?

Too over-the-top even for an experienced, eager traveler like myself.

Still, something tugged at me. Did God want me to go on this trip?

I prayed for a little imagination. Was there someone else I could take?

My daughter-in-law lost her job about this time. She had not had a summer vacation in over ten years, had worked her way through college, had supported my son and been a good sport through it all. She was moving to our town and had decided to take some time off before hunting a new job.

Was this a sign from God?

I don’t live in a vacuum. Everything I do must have a component of giving glory to God, or there’s no point. It’s amazing how much easier it is on my mind if I know I travel with God’s blessing–and it’s awfully fun to see the results as well.

How do you know the will of God and how did it relate to my Transylvania trip?

1. Is it Scriptural? God calls us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to enjoy our families. There wasn’t anything unScriptural about attending a wedding–Jesus went to them!

2. What are the circumstances? I had the money, the opportunity, the time and most important, a family member to take with me. Check.

3. What counsel do you get from those in authority over you? Or, those with a vested interest? My husband told me to enjoy myself. I did.

4. Do you have peace when you pray about the situation? I did.

“I realize the opportunity to spend a week’s vacation with your mother-in-law in Transylvania probably doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, but if you’ll come with me to meet these strangers, I’ll sweeten the deal with a stop in the British Isles, both going and coming.”

She said, “I’d love to.”

We had a wonderful time, got to know each other better, enjoyed all my friends in Transylvania, loved Scotland and saw three plays in London.

Spending time with A was priceless and a total treat.

Obviously, God wanted us to take the trip.

How about you?

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