October 16, 2024 Unexpected Bumps
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Unexpected Bumps
“Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer,
these limitations that cut me down to size—
abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.
I just let Christ take over!
And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 (The Message)
When I was a kid, my family took yearly road trips from Sarasota, Florida to suburban Detroit, a pilgrimage back to my parents’ hometown. In 2nd grade, I documented one of these trips in a journal—a travel blog before blogs were cool. I snapped pictures and wrote, “Just started driving. Lots of trees.” A few hours later: “More trees.” And so it went, mile after mile.
Most of these annual marathon drives were – let’s face it – unmemorable. But one trip stood out: my dad installed a CB radio in our white Ford Taurus so we could chat with our cousins in another car (we did crazy things like this before cell phones…). We had fun with the radio until arriving in Tennessee, where the mountains showed up… and the Taurus gave up. With a shake, stammer, and puff, it broke down on the side of Interstate 75.
While some choice words were muttered by someone in the front seat and groans came over the CB radio, this unexpected pit stop meant us kids could play in the hills of Tennessee while the car was getting fixed. What felt like a disaster turned into our most memorable road trip to Detroit. Even now, when talking about these trips, someone in the family always asks, “Was that the time we broke down in the mountains?”
Tough breaks happen. Today’s passage from 2 Corinthians reminds us that life’s setbacks, especially the annoying ones, are opportunities for transformation when we carry the spirit of Christ through them. Paul speaks of the power of weakness, how God’s strength is made perfect in our struggles.
What seems like a breakdown in the moment can, almost incredibly, become a cherished memory.
Reflect: How do you typically respond to tough breaks or challenges? Do you lean on God during these times, or try to push through on your own strength?
Looking back, are there any moments of struggle that have turned into a cherished memory because of the way God worked in that situation?
Pray: Lord, help me to see life’s challenges through your eyes, as opportunities for growth rather than moments of defeat. Give me the strength to carry your spirit through every setback, knowing that your grace is sufficient for me. Teach me to rely on you, especially in my weakest moments, and transform my trials into evidence of your faithfulness. Amen.