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REFLECTIONS: The care God offers

The care God offers

When I was in college, I was involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational ministry available on many college campuses. The goal of this organization is to provide opportunities for college students to learn about Christ. During the late ’60s, while attending Moorhead State University, I served in leadership roles in that organization. During the same time, David (who would later become my husband), was also involved in that organization at Minot State University. Since we were each involved in the leadership on our respective campuses, the staff worker suggested we go for additional training to a camp in Colorado. 

It was during that time that David and I started to get to know one another. Included in our weeks of training at camp, were several Bible studies, teaching sessions, discussions, singing and times of prayer. We also had the opportunity to participate in various activities around the area.   

One of those activities was a hike to a certain spot for a panoramic view. David and I were among a large group that headed up the mountain. After reaching the top we enjoyed the view for a while but some of us had to leave earlier than others since we had a meeting back at camp.  Our group started down the mountain with the instruction to constantly veer to the right as we descended. Many of the group literally ran down the mountain. Since I’ve never been the most coordinated person, I was fearful of falling so I began to lag behind. David, being the gentleman that he was, made sure that I was not left alone but kept watch on where I was.  Soon, the rest of the group had gotten way ahead of us so that we could not see or hear them anymore. However, we continued on walking and walking till we came to a creek. We knew that the creek ran through the camp but we did not know if we were upstream or downstream from the camp. This began our first problem solving task together. 

First, David climbed up a large rock near us and looked all around for anything he could see of buildings, chimneys or any other sign of people living in the area. He saw nothing like that so he suggested that we needed to sit down and pray together about whether we should go right or left. After praying, we decided that we had probably veered right too much so we decided to go left. We told God that if we were wrong, He needed to help us. We began our walk, but within a very few minutes we heard voices so we stopped. Soon a couple of women we recognized from camp appeared. They were out for a walk and quickly told us that the camp was the OTHER direction. Our God had quickly answered our prayers to keep us safe. When we returned to camp, we learned to our embarrassment that a search party was being formed to look for us. We were thankful that they took our safety so seriously which was important since the camp, Bear Trap Ranch, came by its name very honestly! We also learned that the nearest town in the other direction was Colorado Springs which was thirty-five miles down the mountain! We would likely have been very lost and in considerable danger as night fell.   

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us,” (1 John 5:14 NIV). “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you,” (Psalm 56:3 NIV). “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; My God is my rock in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2 NIV). 

Helen’s first book, “Ordinary Life, Extraordinary God” which contains about 1/3 of the devotionals written for The Minot Daily News over many years is available online or by contacting her at jesusisthereason01@gmail.com.

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