Last month, my flight from Memphis to Denver was bumpy enough on its own. I had already been nervous about taking off in a thunderstorm and landing in a snowstorm, but I had made a commitment to attend the Wild at Heart men’s conference in Buena Vista, Colorado. So, I dragged my luggage into the Memphis terminal, checked in, and got in line at the security checkpoint.

Now, if you know me, you know I love Nutty Bars. They’re my go-to snack—especially late at night with a big glass of milk. (Yes, 2% milk. I am trying to stay healthy.)

Being the type of person who never wants to inconvenience anyone, I had carefully packed my bags, double-checked everything, and even wore floppy shoes to speed things up. The very last thing I wanted was to hold up a line of anxious travelers. But God has a way of putting us in situations where we have to face what we’d rather avoid. For me, it was about learning to “wait” and letting go of my fear of causing others discomfort.

And He chose Nutty Bars to teach me.

I had packed a sealed box in my carry-on, figuring, How could TSA possibly have a problem with that? Well, as I soon learned—oh, they can.

Standing barefoot at the x-ray machine, holding my pants up with one hand, I suddenly heard a voice behind me yell:
“RED BAG! NUTTY BARS!”

“What?! No way!” I thought, horrified. But yes, it was happening. Four security officers rushed over to inspect my bag. Every traveler within 100 feet turned to see who the culprit was. And there I stood, wishing I could just put my shoes back on and disappear.

After a thorough inspection, the head officer grinned and said, “As long as you don’t mind sharing, you’re good.” I laughed nervously, replying, “Take all you want—just let me out of here.” They were kind, professional, and far nicer than they had to be. Honestly, TSA gets a bad rap.

I think they must have called ahead to Denver, because on my return flight—even with no Nutty Bars in sight—I was flagged again. This time, two baby wipes in my pocket set off alarms. I got pulled aside, swabbed, and given a stern warning: “If this doesn’t come back with a smiley face, we’ve got a problem.” Once again, TSA was gracious, but I was sweating bullets and couldn’t wait to get on that plane.

So what did I learn from all this?

On top of a mountain in the Colorado Rockies at sunrise, I felt God whisper, “You don’t wait well, do you?” I had been impatiently tapping my watch, urging the sun to rise so I could get a picture. Come on, God. Let’s go. I have things to do.

But God doesn’t work on my timetable. He’s gentle in pointing out the agreements I’ve made that hold me back:

• You can live without Nutty Bars.

• You can live without baby wipes.

• You can survive being uncomfortable for a while.
  But you can’t live without Me.

And that’s the truth. Some people try to live without Him, but I can’t anymore. He’s my friend, guiding me in ways I never knew I needed help. He is just that good.

If you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend the Ransomed Heart app. If you know John Eldredge’s books Wild at Heart or Captivating, you know how deeply life-giving his ministry can be.

So, I share my Nutty Bar embarrassment with you in hopes that it gives you a laugh today—and maybe a reminder, too. Slow down. Breathe. Stop worrying so much. It really will be okay. God knows what He’s doing.

May He bless you more than you can imagine. And if you haven’t given Him a chance yet, what do you really have to lose?

Thank you to my wonderful wife, my son, my daughters, and the Ransomed Heart team for making my life richer. And most of all:
“Thank you, God. You rock.”

Ken Dulaney