“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18
OK, get your tissues out for a really, really sad story. So, it was a Saturday afternoon and I was coming back from Marion. It was hot…now I don’t mean unpleasantly warm or the kinda hot that may test your deodorant a little. It was sweat through your shirt, man you stink hot. I was rounding a curve, tootling a long and minding my own business when I heard a funny “road” noise. It only took about two seconds to recognize that sound–I had a FLAT tire. I immediately whipped to the side of the load, stopped and said, “Well what are we going to do now?” I mean I knew what to do but I also knew I didn’t want to do it.
So, I got out of the car, and yes, it was hot and starting looking at the tires. Tire #1, good; tire #2, good; Tire #3, good; tire #4, flat–but only on one side. So I went to the rear of the van, popped the tailgate and found the jack–the one that had never been used and held in place by a nut that had been torqued to the point of no return at the factory. As I tried to loosen it, it soon wasn’t the only thing that was torqued.
After much effort, I got the jack out, loosened the lug nuts and jacked the van up enough to locate the spare under the rear of the van. It appeared to be held in place by a giant wing nut that hadn’t been loosened…ever. I beat on it for about 15 minutes slowly turning it around and wishing the guy that designed it would have a massive kidney stone.
Finally I came to my senses and said, “Maybe, I should read the directions.” Well, I did and I discovered the guy didn’t deserve a kidney stone after all. You see, Ford had put a nut inside the van in the cargo area. As you turned that nut with the lug wrench, it gently lowered the tire to the ground. Hmmmm…how about that?
Well, I got the spare out and as I was jacking up the van the rest of way, God sent a young man to help me finish the job. Thank you, Lord. So, while I still had a very flat tire, while I was drenched in sweat (and even jammed my thumb–this is where the tissues come in), and while I was still very, very hot…if I had just read the directions my experience would have been a whole lot less painful. If only I had read the directions….
Do you think it is possible that our lives would be a whole lot less painful if we would read and follow the directions for life–God’s Word? Let me answer my own question with a resounding YES. There would still be bumps…and flat tires…but we would face them with a wisdom, knowledge and understanding that can only come from God–through His Word. Now, notice that important word…follow. It is not enough to just read, you have to do. Imagine me reading the instruction book and then continuing to beat on that piece of metal under the van. I thought I was right but guess what? I was wrong.
So since it is a fact that we are going to have bumps and flats, why not turn to the one who knows all about flats and frustrations. Why not ask Him for some good, Godly advice? The good news is He is willing, He is able and He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 