“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Yesterday my husband and I experienced our fifth flat tire together. It was on I-95 near Fredericksburg, VA. Just before the exit. It was nerve racking. The cars and trucks were flying by so fast. No one stopped, of course. A police officer came by just as we were finishing up. Gratefully it was on the passenger side, which meant away from the traffic. God protected us, we changed it and were able to get back on the road.
We had been traveling for approximately two hours at this point. It was our third obstacle in a short time. We’d had a trucker pull us over because he felt our bikes were not secure on the back of the trailer. Which they were. Then a piece of trim on our Fifth Wheel had come loose and was flopping in the wind, which had to be tucked back into the frame. Third was the flat tire.
For the first time in our RVing life I wanted to turn around and go back home. It just seemed like too much. I was afraid of what would happen next.
My husband though, said something which changed my perspective. We had gotten back on the road. I was recapping to him all of the flat tires I had experienced since being married to him. I had worked for 16 years as a Merchandise Coordinator with Nautica. During that time I averaged 50,000 plus miles a year driving. Gratefully, not once did I have a flat tire. God’s grace on my life. Since being married to Ron, in five years we’ve had five flats.
I’d rather have a flat with my husband, than none by myself.
I was focused on the negative side of having a flat tire when he shared his philosophy with me. He has always been “flat tire” prone. He told me he has learned flat tires are a part of life. When you experience as many as he has, you learn to just deal with it and move on. You don’t let it ruin your day. You take the bad with the good.
He’s right. Flat tires are a part of life. Whether it’s an actual flat tire, a job loss or a something even worse. It happens. Jesus tells us in John 16:33 it’s going to happen. Take heart though, He is with you in all things. He has overcome whatever it is. Even death.
We have to learn to deal with it and keep going. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. I’m not saying it’s going to be immediate. I am saying God is with you. He will help you keep going. He will send people and events into your life which will spur you on.
Just like my husband spurred me on yesterday when I wanted to give up.
”…in this world you will have trouble, take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Don’t let your flat tires stop you from what God has in store for you. Keep going. Get back on the road. It’s only a bad moment, don’t let it ruin your day.
Flat tires Aren’t So Bad!
