A little girl was put on a train by her loving older brother. He promised that when she got to her destination he and her father would meet her and they would live in a new home where she would be very happy. Her brother kissed her and gave her into the care of two people who would accompany her during her trip. One was a gentle lady who took her by the hand and showed her where to go on the train. She showed the girl where to find the dining car, the observation deck, and the sleeping car. The other was a tall, strong looking young man who seemed to have the job of being her guard. 
The little girl was delighted with the thought of going to the special place her brother had told her about. That night as the train rolled along she snuggled into her new bed and dreamt of running with the wind in her hair in a beautiful place. In the morning she was still thinking about that wonderful place somewhere ahead. She was looking forward to being with her beloved father and her dear brother. But after days passed, she became worried. Maybe she was on the wrong train. Maybe the train had gotten on the wrong track. Maybe she would never see her father, brother, or the wonderful new home. Or what if there really wasn’t a wonderful place they were going to after all? 
Seeing the sadness in her face, the gentle lady took her to the dining car and ordered a sweet treat to cheer her up. It was as sweet as honey and lifted her spirits immediately. While she was enjoying the treat, a young boy sat down at a table nearby. He smiled at her. The kind lady invited him to come sit with them. Soon they were talking and laughing. The little girl was pleased to make a friend her age.
The next day she saw the boy on the observation deck. She sat with him and discovered that he was also going to the same destination she was. His face lit up when he talked about how lovely it was there. But a shadow crossed the girl’s face. This boy seemed to know so much and be so sure of getting there. But she had doubts about this being the wrong train or the wrong way or maybe there wasn’t even a wonderful place. Then the boy asked her where she was going. In a weak voice, she replied that she hoped she was going where he was going. Certainly the boy would get there safely, but maybe her brother would hear that she had doubts and wouldn’t let her come with him to their new house. After all, he had promised her but she had doubted. Probably he’d be disappointed in her. She felt so ashamed that the next day when she saw the boy, she pretended she needed to go back to her sleeper car for something. She started staying in her berth for longer times. She didn’t want to listen to the lady who reminded her how much her brother loved her. She felt too guilty to even think about her older brother.
Then she began to worry that she would be found out and be put off the train at the next stop. She didn’t deserve to go to a place she doubted existed. But maybe if she found some jobs to do they wouldn’t make her get off the train. Maybe if she worked hard they would allow her to continue the trip. She got up early the next day and went straight to the dining car, but she didn’t sit down and eat a healthy breakfast. Instead, she found the galley and started washing dishes. Surely if she made herself useful, worked hard, and was nice to everyone she’d be allowed to get to her wonderful destination. She washed dishes morning, noon, and night. She hardly had time to eat any of the good food and she rarely saw her little friend. She noticed her guard stayed close, but she wondered where the kind lady had gone.
After several days, she was exhausted and hungry. She had just tumbled into bed when there was a knock at her berth door. The gentle lady was there with a tray of hot food and beside her stood her little friend. The food tasted so good and gave her some much needed strength. Then the boy and the lady began to talk about the happy place the train was headed. The girl hung her head. “I’m not sure I’ll get there.” The lady reminded her that her big brother loved her deeply, had purchased her ticket at a very high cost, and had promised her that he would meet her at that wonderful place.
Her friend took her hand, looked her in the eye, and asked, “Did your big brother pay enough to get you all the way to our destination?” She nodded. 
“So your ticket has been paid in full?” Again she nodded.
“You don’t have to pay any of the ticket?” She shook her head.
“He personally bought your ticket and put you on this train. He also gave you people to teach and guard you on your journey, right?” She was starting to see things clearer. She nodded.
Then the kind lady spoke tenderly to her, “You can’t earn your ticket. It’s been bought with something you’ll never have enough of. You do want to please your beloved brother, right?” She nodded vigorously.
“Do you know what pleases him more than anything else?”
The girl wasn’t sure. “Maybe doing good things and being nice would please him the most?”
The lady’s words were gentle but firm, “He wants something even more than what you do. He wants you to love him enough to trust him.”
The little boy added, “We trust him to get us to our destination. And on the way, we do good things and act nice to show our appreciation for what he gave us. We trust him and we obey him.”
Sweet relief washed over the little girl. She didn’t have the heavy burden of earning her way to that wonderful place. Hope shone light into her dark corners of doubt. And her soul gave a big sigh as peace flooded in.
“I know my big brother takes good care of me. I know he wants me to be with him. I do trust him. I’m so grateful he put me on this train with others to help me. I do believe I’ll get to that lovely place. And along the way, I’ll gladly do the good things he wants me to do.”
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (David talking about the Scriptures) Psalm 119:103
“With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home.” Exodus 15:13
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:8-10
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. . . you will always be with me where I am.” Jesus in John 14:1,3