God’s Goodness Doesn’t Require a Passport

Having never left the country before, I was slightly nervous about going through customs for the first time. The unknown of entering a foreign country felt daunting. Still, just like everything else in my life that has ever felt intimidating, the power of prayer always overcame it. Therefore, before my trip, I prayed for the composure and self-assurance I would need to get through customs seamlessly.

As I got on the plane to Mexico, I sat at the window seat next to two strangers– women a little older than me on their way to Tulum for a girl’s trip. From the conversation I had overheard, they sounded like they had been to Mexico a few times. So as we neared closer to landing, I decided to strike up a conversation and ask them if they had any advice for someone like me going through customs for the first time.

The response I received was nothing other than reassurance from God that I would be okay. They gave me their version of Customs 101 and many great tips about Mexico in general. Things to be aware of as a female traveler, what to avoid inside the airport, and what to expect once coming out of the airport. Their outpouring of kindness and generosity in sharing everything they knew stilled most of my fears.

However, God’s goodness typically doesn’t stop where we think it will. His goodness knows no bounds, and the next few moments going through customs exemplified that in more ways than one.

Once I got off the plane, the two women I talked to invited me to come through customs with them. They wanted to ensure I got through safely and wasn’t alone. At this point, the fears I had earlier had been fully dismantled and removed from taking residence in my mind. Going through customs was much easier than I had anticipated, and having them there by my side made me question why I had ever worried in the first place.

After we all officially entered the Cancún airport, I’d assumed that’s where we’d part ways, but they assured me they would stay with me until we were outside. It’s so refreshing knowing that kindness in our world still exists. They walked me through the rest of the airport and past security again until we got to the transportation hub that would take me to my resort.

Once we went on our separate ways, I couldn’t help but thank God for putting the right people on my path at the right time. There’s no way I could have orchestrated a better series of events myself.

Only God can do that.

So I went on my way and safely experienced Mexico! My days included lots of business meetings and team huddles– but also catching the marvelously painted sunrises each morning, swimming with bright-colored sealife, and experiencing life-giving coral embedded beneath the clear turquoise seas with a few of my teammates.

After a few packed days from sunrise to sunset, I embarked on my journey home. I may not be a customs expert just yet, but with one round under my belt, I felt equipped to get back to South Carolina stress-free.

However, once I landed in Charlotte, I realized that the rest of my travel day would look slightly different than I had planned. We were stalled on the runway, unable to deboard. My layover wasn’t long, and I didn’t know how extensive customs would be. The consensus of the other passengers on board was that there would be a lot of missed flights. This theory was confirmed after finally disembarking and entering the airport, where I was met with a customs line miles long. Strings of people weaving back and forth were all I could see. I couldn’t even mentally calculate how long it might take.

I started going through worst-case scenarios: What if I miss my flight? Will I have to stay the night? Rent a car and drive home?

The grip of the unknown started to incessantly knock as I tried to stay positive and cling to hope. So I did the only thing I knew to do in this seemingly hopeless situation–

I prayed.

First, I thanked God for everything He had done in my life up to this point. All the protection He had placed over me in the last few days. All the strength He had granted me to carry myself with. Then I asked for something small in the grand scheme of life, but a request that felt big during the moment. I asked for the means to catch my flight if it was in God’s will for me not to miss it.

As I inched closer to the end of the line, I watched the time as my flight got closer to its departure.

I knew realistically I probably wouldn’t make it with less than 20 minutes left until take-off, but I was holding on to a piece of hope that I only knew had one source. Once I successfully got through customs, I knew I had to move fast. I re-entered security, flew up flights of stairs next to broken escalators, and had my “Home-Alone” moment as I sprinted through my terminal to Gate 16.

When I stopped to see where I was, I heard the words come over the speakers, “Final Boarding to Greenville, SC.”

I felt a rush of relief as I boarded the plane that would take me home. Peace fell over me as I realized that my prayer was answered. I found my seat and sat down to catch my breath. Less than 4 minutes later, the aircraft taxied out to the runway.

As I fastened my seatbelt for takeoff, I happened to look over at the passenger seated across from me. She was reading a novel with a bookmark placed between the pages. And on this bookmark was a piece of scripture found in Genesis 22:14:

“And Abraham called the name of the place, Jehovah-Jireh; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

As soon as I read the verse, she tucked the bookmark under a different page.

I know God can’t talk to Christians today like He did to those in the Bible, but I wholeheartedly believe that God works in the most beautiful yet unexplainable ways to remind us of how much He provides to those He loves.