Bumps in the Road

Yesterday I was driving home from an appointment amongst the constant repaving of the freeway lanes. Part way through my drive there was a newly paved, smooth lane and I was driving on it. I love the feeling of the new pavement. It feels comforting, smooth, unobstructed, and almost joyful to be able to drive on it. But about a mile later, the "grooved" pavement started...the part they have stripped, but haven't poured yet. Before I got to it there are signs posted every few feet: Motorcycles us extreme caution, Grooved pavement ahead. When my car hit the grooved pavement, I was prepared for it. I gripped my steering wheel a bit harder. I concentrated a little more on where I was in the lane. The lane sides had an edge on them and I didn't want my tire to hit the edge. All through out the drive there were warning signs that told me to drive carefully and that reminded me that I was on grooved pavement. Toward the end of the grooved pavement there was a sign that said "Bump ahead". I eased up on my accelerator a little and held on tightly to my steering wheel as I prepared for the bump. I was very aware that the bump was coming and went over it with expectation. When that was over I was on "normal" ground again...not new, smooth pavement, not grooved pavement, but road that had a few bumps along the way, was a little worn out but workable, and familiar to drive on. I did not have to concentrate as much. I was use to it. It was the road I usually drove on. A few miles down the road, there was a large flashing sign that read: Re-paving project 2.4 miles ahead Prepare for construction (something like that). A warning...there were going to be more bumps ahead and maybe delays.

What does road construction have to do with God? As I was driving through all of this, God spoke to my heart. Some days in our lives we have really smooth, no obstruction, newly paved road kind of days. Things seem to just work and we love how it feels as we navigate through our day. No bumps, no grooved pavement...we just sail on through. Those are the days we so easily praise God. We wish all of our days were like that...easy to drive on...easy to get through.

Some days are like the groove pavement. They are harder to get through. We have to concentrate on everything throughout the day...we spill our coffee when we are in a hurry. Our kids are not on their best behavior. Someone says something that hurts and it resonates with us all day. The check didn't get there on time and we don't know how we are going to pay that bill that has to be paid today. Sometimes the grooved payment is a whole season in our lives...not just one day. It seems like it might never end. It feels like that is all we can focus on just to make it through our day...we have to hold tight to our steering wheel...it's all we can do to get through the time. We might find it hard to praise God on these days and think He is not present..."Where are you God?" "Why is this happening to me?"

Some days there are bumps....not just grooved payment, but actual bumps. We hit them and they make our whole body jolt. They could be unexpected. We wonder why we didn't see the huge sign that was posted telling us we were going to hit that bump. We would have held on tighter, slowed down a little, concentrated more, and prepared for it. "It's not fair." "I didn't expect that."

But in life we don't always have sign to warn us: A trial ahead in 2.4 days. Prepare now. Remember that God loves you. Remember that God is your strong tower and place of refuge. "This" is exactly what is going to happen. Why didn't we see that sign? We were just sailing along and all of the sudden that grooved pavement hit...it throws us off course for a while. We hit the bump at too high of a speed and it hurts.

No we don't have actual neon signs flashing or actual road signs to look at...but we have something better..we have the Word and promise of God. He is our flashing neon sign. He is our warning road side message. Scripture written our our foreheads, on our doorposts, in our hearts...

He gives us all we need to get through those grooved pavement kind of days. He is there as we hit that bump. He warned us in scripture that we will have trials (grooved pavement kind of days, bumps in the road) in John 16:33 "...Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows..." But I love what He says before that v32 and the end of v33 "Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me...But take heart, because I have overcome the world." That is a big neon flashing sign..."you will have trials". But our signs along our road would read: "You are not alone" "Your Father is with you" "Keep your eyes on Jesus" "My unfailing love is better than life (Psalm 63:3)

The Bible represents our neon flashing sign, our warning signs along the road, our instructions to get us through those road construction areas. We can be assured that God is always with us. We can be assured that even when we forget to look to Jesus when we hit the bump or can't seem to get a grip during those grooved times, God is our guide...Grab on to God...Grab on to scripture...Grab on to the one who knows the way...Grab on to Him with dear life...because He is "better than life". Our Bible is our steering wheel...our GPS to navigate us through. Look up and notice the signs...they are there. Get your eyes off the grooves and back on to Jesus. That is how you will get through...Trust God.

Thank you God for being there through the easy, bumpy, grooved times...for being my guide and navigator...for keeping me on course...Lord forgive me for not grabbing tightly on to your "steering wheel", the Word, when I hit those days or seasons of life that feel like grooved pavement. I pray that I will keep my eyes on You so that I will be able to navigate through any kind of day.

In love...Teresa