As I stared out the rear window of the bus, I thought, ‘What if I die? This may be my last night ever!’

My son suggested we take an all-night bus through the Peruvian Andes down to the coast. I was prepared to be driven over high mountain passes and on winding roads. We live in the Rocky Mountains of western United States. But I was not prepared for roads so narrow that the bus had to stop and let on-coming traffic around; or the high speed at which the bus rounded hairpin curves; or roads that were unpaved for long stretches, no guardrails and almost vertical slopes just inches from our speeding wheels. Nor was I prepared to ride in something that passed anything slower than the speed of sound — even around blind mountain curves.

I thought that perhaps I could sleep during the trip, but the excitement and anxiety of what reminded me of an amusement park ride kept my heart skipping beats and my eyes wide open. I thought, ‘What if I die?’ And began to count all the possible ways this bus could slide off the mountainside, not the least of which was the fact that the driver was working a 12-hour shift. What if he became sleepy? My mind was just too filled with “what ifs…” to find rest. I needed an antidote to worry.

Then I remembered five comforting words: “And it came to pass…” Not coincidently, the phrase is found throughout the Bible. It’s an intriguing phrase…”and it came to pass.” I’ve never read, “And it came to stay.” It’s always, “And it came to pass…”

Whenever I have encountered problems over the years, they came to pass. My anxieties and worries always proved to be temporary. In fact, I have forgotten most of the fears that once kept me awake at night.

I’ve learned that most tough times and impossible situations eventually come to pass. And sufficient strength can be found for those few that may linger a while.

Besides, what could I do? The bus would either make it or not.

Like New York Yankees outfielder Mickey Rivers once said, “Ain’t no sense in worrying about things you got control over, ’cause if you got control over them, ain’t no sense worrying. And there ain’t no sense worrying about things you got no control over, ’cause if you got no control over them, ain’t no sense worrying about them.”

So I rested in the peace that, like most of what I worry about, this will come to pass. I began to enjoy the rollicking ride, much like one would enjoy a roller coaster. And before long, the sun rose on a beautiful Peruvian landscape. It was true, I had nothing to worry about. This, too, came to pass.

I suspect the same can be said about that problem that worries you.

Steve Goodier

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