Back on the road again

The other day, my daughter was driving home from Stratford when, at Wootton Wawen, the dashboard showed a warning light, the car started to judder and then to lose power. Realising that she was in trouble, my daughter pulled over and called for AA roadside assistance. In due time, a yellow van arrived and a competent chap got out armed with his diagnostic tester. The problem was identified and the cause soon located and corrected. ‘Hop in’ said the mechanic ‘and I will follow you for six miles, then, if all is well, pullover and we’ll complete the paperwork.’

‘Never,’ said my daughter later, ‘have I felt so confident whilst driving as I did during those six miles, knowing that my saviour was right there behind, continuing to watch out for me. There must be a Faith Matters article in that for you Dad!’

Well of course there is. On life’s journey there will be occasions when we encounter things that threaten our progress. These judders and loss of power which knock us off track can be things like employment, financial hassles, health issues and personal relationships. Sometimes, especially when a problem assumes crisis proportions or penetrates to the depth of our soul, we get a spiritual warning light. Questions come into our minds like ‘Where am I going anyway? What’s it all about? What’s the point? Is there a God or isn’t there? Does it matter…?’

Now the AA man had told my daughter that she had done the right thing in pulling over, as to continue would have resulted in serious damage. When we get a spiritual warning light it is the time to pull over and take stock. Often we will try and sort out the problem and get ourselves back on the road. I believe however, that what we need is to allow God’s (diagnostic) word to speak to us, and then trust in him to get us running properly.

If we will put in a call to God’s appointed rescue agent, Jesus, then we may anticipate an accurate assessment of our personal ‘breakdown’. Symptoms will be different for each of us, although the fundamental problem for us all is the same one - estrangement from the true God. Jesus is the one who can fix that for us by applying his forgiveness and restoring us to God. He goes further too; Jesus then empowers us by his spirit to get on the right road. What’s more, he doesn’t just stick with us for the first few miles, but promises to stay with us through thick and thin saying, ‘I will never leave you, I will never abandon you.’ (Hebrews 13v5).