Who’s Riding With You?

When I graduated from the seminary, I was appointed kavazanakir—the assistant of His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians. In those days, the Catholicos traveled with a police escort. (That privilege has since been taken away by the current government, which is a sad reality—but that is not the point of this message.)

I remember one trip from Etchmiadzin to Yerevan when we were running late for an important official meeting. The escort car pulled onto the shoulder, passing traffic one by one. People in their cars looked at us as if to say, “What are you doing? Get back in line!” But the escort kept moving. He didn’t slow down; he didn’t follow the usual rules.

When the road cleared, he drove 65, 70 miles per hour, far above the speed limit. Other officers saw us, but they didn’t stop us. When we reached downtown Yerevan, we didn’t wait for the traffic light to turn green. If the road was clear, we went right through.

Why? Because we had the escort. The authority of the law was riding with us. If I had tried to do the same thing in my own little car, I would have been pulled over and ticketed. But with the law leading us, we weren’t bound by normal limitations.

This image has stayed with me because it speaks to our spiritual lives. So often we live as if we are driving alone. We see obstacles: illness, unanswered prayers, broken relationships, and financial struggles, and we feel powerless. We stay stuck in traffic, boxed in by discouragement.

But when we walk with God, we are never traveling alone. Holy Scriptures remind us: “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8). When God goes before you, His authority clears the path. With Him leading the way, you can move past obstacles, break through barriers, and walk in victory.

So the next time you feel stuck in life’s traffic, remember who’s riding with you. You have the King of Kings leading your way. And when He leads, no obstacle, no fear, no limitation can keep you from reaching the place He has prepared for you.