My commute into work finds me heading down Highway 61 north of town during the early morning hours. I’m still at the phase where, as I’m coming down the hill, rounding that corner, and the bridge comes into sight, I hear myself catch my breath in sudden awe. The rays of the rising sun capture the color, turning it into a beacon of light against the greyscale city. It’s a sight to behold. John’s words always come to mind, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Except when that fog rolls in, as it did a few weeks back. That caught me by surprise too. One minute I'm looking at the green and verdant hills on the outskirts of town, and the next minute I’m surrounded by a thick fog and all I see in front of me are the red brake lights of cars whose drivers were also caught unaware. We slow way down and focus, keeping our eyes intently on the road ahead, hoping not to lose our way.

That's the way it is in life too, right? One minute we're journeying along with Jesus clearly at our side, when suddenly there’s a trauma and the drama shrouds our vision. Things aren’t quite so clear now. We slow way down and questions whirl in front of us. Why is this happening? This isn’t how my life is supposed to go. Where am I going? I think I’m lost. Why am I alone? I’m scared. And most predictably: Where is Jesus in this mess? I don’t feel his presence. When life gets a little foggy and the path ahead is unclear, we wonder where Divine Providence is taking us or if Jesus is at the wheel. Or even in the car.

The Good News is that Jesus is right here in the middle of it all. Yep, He is. You might not feel His presence, but He’s there. Weeping when you weep and mourning when you mourn, guiding you out of the confusion and along the path toward the light of joy, making all things new (Revelation 21:4-6). He gives strength and courage (Joshua 1:9) and protection from the storms (Matthew 8:24-27).

As I headed down the hill and onto the bridge, the fog disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. Hastings was big in the window, and all was well with the world. I smiled. Despite the drama and the trauma of the world, it's all going to be just fine. We'll suffer a bit, laugh a lot, and even lose our way sometimes. No worries, though, because Jesus is in control and our final destination isn't even in Google maps. And that, my friends… is some really Good News. #JesusisyourGPS Laura Stierman is the Director of Evangelization at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and School