When Life feels like One Bump in the Road after Another
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Have you ever wondered, Why can’t life just run smoothly?
A couple weeks ago, I sat in front of my computer having a pity party and stewing over this question.
The article I was working on just wasn’t coming together. On top of that, I was having computer problems. Though I had mailed the computer in for repair at the end of December, after two long weeks it was returned to me with the same problem as when I’d sent it in.
In the last month, I’ve faced other minor, but nevertheless annoying, disturbances to my daily flow. The grocery store has had a long-term outage of my favorite decaf coffee. My husband has had several changes to his work schedule, which requires me to recalibrate my schedule (a challenge for this routine-lover). A package I was expecting was declared missing by the tracking service, so I had to jump through several hoops to get a refund, only to have the package arrive the next week. This occurrence required further emails to find out whether I needed to send the items back.
So I glared at the computer and moped. Why are there so many potholes in this road of life? Why is everything so hard? I have so much I want to accomplish, but these mundane problems are consuming my time. I felt frustrated and alone.
Ready to call it a day, I popped open Facebook. The first post in my feed was a featured memory from a post I had published one year ago, and as soon as I saw it, I felt relief trickle through my heart.
I’ve edited the original for brevity, but here’s the gist of it:
In December [2016] I was informed that our insurance company was requesting re-payment for medical appointments I had in July [2016]. I was confused because I had been told our new insurance was effective July 1st, and I didn’t know why the insurance would pay for the appointments, then 6 months later say I wasn’t covered.
I spent hours trying to figure out what happened, and I was facing the possibility of a very large bill. For the last month I’ve been doing my best not to let it weigh on me, but it was still there at the back of my mind.
I finally got word that the situation has been resolved with no additional cost to us. What a relief! I am so thankful for our Good Father who takes care of us!...
Ah, that’s right! God helps me! And not only does he help me with the big stuff, like the insurance issue, but He helps me with the little stuff too.
I realized I was blowing things out of proportion and mentally took myself by the shoulders and gave myself a little shake.
I started thinking of all the ways God has provided answers for me in the last couple months, and, in some cases, extra blessings too.
The grocery store’s shortage of my favorite decaf? Though every variety of coffee produced by that specific brand was out, when I commented to an employee that it was the decaf blend I was in search of, she announced that she had a 5 pound (!) bag of decaf in the back. She even gave me a discount!
And that package that I had been so annoyed at having to coordinate a refund for? When I informed the company that the package actually wasn’t lost, the customer service representative told me to just keep the items, free of charge.
Even getting the computer back to full functionality turned out to be a simple fix (my husband helped resolve that issue a few days after my pity party). Then, the manufacturer called me and said they were refunding my shipping cost to compensate for the repair taking two weeks instead of the one week they had promised.
In each of these instances, I felt a personal touch from God. I felt Him saying, Remember? I work all things together for your good.
As I reflect on these inconveniences-turned-blessings, I am also reminded to not worry when confronted with bumps along the road—big or small.
In life, we inevitably encounter problems, ranging from minor inconvenience to major upheaval. These can feel scary, because they seem to threaten the fulfillment of our needs and goals (if my computer’s not working, how will I get my writing done?).
I want to cruise through life on a smooth, pothole-free road. But God never promised we wouldn’t face troubles. What he does promise is that He will help us change the tire when a pothole leaves us with a flat; He promises that He will always provide the tools we need to fulfill all He has called us to. Though it stuns me, He even cares about computers and coffee.
Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life...your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:25, 32-33 NLT)
I’m learning to greet complications with the assurance that all will be well. It’s okay that I don’t have the answer, because my good Father does. I’m learning to set my heart at rest (emphasis on learning!) in the knowledge that He’s faithful, and He’s able.
I endeavor for this to be my prayer when challenges make an unwelcome appearance: Thank you, Father, that you promise to work all things to my good. Thank you that I can trust you to take care of me, help me through difficulties, and give me everything I need. Thank you that I can rest as your child, knowing that in my own strength I can’t make anything happen, but with you all things are possible. Amen.
Photo courtsey Pexels.
