Bumps in the Road

Life isn’t perfect as we know. Sometimes there are bumps in the road. These are things that threaten to throw us off balance in life. Maybe it’s a negative doctor’s report, a ripple in a relationship, an unexpected expense, a disappointment when something doesn’t turn out as expected…and the list can go on. Some of these may be bigger bumps than others, but they’re all things that can knock us off course if we’re not careful.

My boys and I like to exercise together in the morning. I’ll walk and they’ll roller blade. We have these speed bumps where we live and these days, my boys are confidently gliding right over them.  But I remember, back when they were first learning to skate, their reactions were very different. One of my sons avoided them completely. The other, unprepared, sped right over it, ending up with a bloody knee and scraped elbows. Kind of describes the way we may approach the bumps in our own lives, right?  Do we avoid them completely, become afraid, bury our heads in the sand, or plow ahead unknowingly, taking blow after blow as we do? How should we approach these bumps in the road?

The Bible is very clear that we’ll encounter difficulty in life.  Peter 4:12-13 tells us to not be surprised by them, and yet also gives us a wonderful promise. It says that we’ll not only come through them, we’ll actually have greater joy in our lives because His glory will be revealed in us. What a promise!

Fear will steal our lives while we’re still living if we allow it to. We don’t have to be afraid when we encounter a trial, because God is with us and He promises us all throughout His Word, that with Him, we’re overcomers! Still, we shouldn’t be ignorant and unprepared for the trials either. 1 Peter 4:7 tells us to be sober and pray always. The greek word used for sober means to be sensible, to be serious, to have good judgement. We can do this, by recognizing the tactics of the enemy in our lives, choosing not to react in the natural and instead dealing with it in the spiritual. Whenever trials come, we have an opportunity to respond in a way that will ensure our victory and be a great testimony of God’s glory.

Here are some things the Lord has taught me to do when I encounter those bumps in the road and am struggling to stay on course.

• Pray and ask the Lord if there’s anything He’s desiring to teach you through the trial. God doesn’t cause bad things to happen in our lives, but He does promise to work all things together for good, for those that love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). Every trial I’ve gone through, God has taught me a valuable lesson. In fact, some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned have come through trials I’ve gone through. Knowing I can trust God to see me through whatever I encounter and come out even better than before is one of the greatest! I’ve also found that the trial ends quicker when I stay attuned to God’s voice in the midst of it.
• Pray God’s Word. “HELP!!” is a great prayer because God is surely our Helper, but God has also given us promises in His Word. These are things He’s already done and we have the power to call forth in our lives.  As we speak God’s Word over our lives, we’re calling forth His will. If I feel sick I say, “God, your Word says, ‘I’m healed by Jesus Christ’s stripes. Healing is my divine inheritance and I’m filled with resurrection life.” If the attack is great and I feel afraid, I say, “Lord, your Word says, ‘No weapon formed against me will prosper and ‘Greater are you that lives is me than anything in this world that comes against me!” Make it a point to arm yourself with God’s Word. It’s your spiritual weapon, and will strengthen you for the battle.
• And finally, keep on praising God!!! A lot of the attacks in our lives are designed solely to take us off course. The enemy hates us and the great destiny God has for us, but too bad, because he’s a defeated foe. The Bible talks very often about “standing firm” and not allowing the enemy to move us from the appointed place God has us in. If we keep our eyes fixed and focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we’ll remain strong. Don’t allow the enemy to take you off course – keep on praising God, keep on sharing your testimony, keep on loving others, keep on shining bright! The Bible says, “Resist the devil and he will flee….” There is a resistance necessary, but God promises your enemy WILL flee every time!

Believe me, I know it’s not easy when the bumps in the road come, but it’s possible for us to overcome them all with Christ. I’ve learned we don’t have to be afraid and we can be prepared so that with God’s grace, we can not only glide over every bump we encounter, but come out stronger on the other side!