The Winding Road

My oldest child, Sam, gets car sick from time to time… especially when we are driving the winding roads in the mountains.

We’ve tried it all.  Looking forward, closing eyes, water, sprite, graham crackers, front seat, slowing down on turns, etc.  When his tummy decides to get upset from the motion there is nothing we can do.

I try to encourage him, telling him to “hold on” as the winding road is coming to an end.  I tell him to be patient as I am going as fast as I can.  All the while I am praying for God to deliver Sam from this hurt and pain.

In the middle of some beautiful mountain scenery, the twists and turns of the path we’re on make it hard for him to enjoy it.

Such as life, eh?

Romans 12:12 tells us to “Be joyful in hope, patient in infliction, faithful in prayer.”

Although I have a great marriage and wonderful kids… although I live in a comfortable house and beautiful state… although I have solid friends and amazing family… when the path I am on begins to twist and turn to the point of upsetting me, all of life’s beauty can be missed.

Have no doubt about it… we are going to face some tough turns on this road we call life.  The Bible confirms it.

But these troubles can be a blessing.  Did I just say that out loud?  Okay, okay… they may not look like blessings while we are following these zigzaging paths, but they are designed to help us grow.

How do we handle it when this happens?  If we follow what God says in Romans 12:12 above, we should:

• be hopeful of deliverance when our journey’s road has become difficult
• be patient, not giving up when life brings detours from the ordinary
• be prayerful, so our hearts don’t become bitter, angry and unforgiving

And if we stay faithful while on these winding roads, God promises to restore our paths by straightening them out once again.

“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.  You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.” (Psalm 71:20-21)

God allows troubles.  He allows the straight and narrow path we’re comfortably on to begin to curve this way and that way for a specific reason.  Maybe to teach us something… maybe to test us…

Sam now knows that when car-sickness sets in, he needs to be hopeful, patient and trusting… knowing the straightened path is near.

So do we…