Trust (Dictionary): Assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something, one in which confidence is placed.
Trust (Bible): Confidence, hope, faith, deposit, listen, obey, have confidence in.
With spring comes new life, blossoms and -yes- potholes! They seem to suddenly appear and are usually a nuisance.
In 1826, geologists originally defined pot holes as a geological feature in glaciers and gravel beds. There were other theories why they eventually became known as “pot holes.”
One theory is that in the 1700s, before mechanized digging machines, potters dug for clay by hand. In the winter, the ground froze, making it impossible to dig in the fields, so they had to dig along the lanes where carriages and horses broke down the soil, thus creating “pot holes.” More modern definitions include:
A pothole is a type of failure in an asphalt pavement, caused by the presence of water in the underlying soil structure. The presence of traffic passing over the affected area introduces water to the underlying soil structure and weakens the supporting soil. Traffic then fatigues and breaks the poorly supported asphalt surface.
Today we still cope with pot holes-both real and spiritual. They can be dangerous and damage vehicles and rattle our teeth! Warning signs could be used but that rarely happens!
We could create a “Christian allegory” from our experiences with pot holes. In this allegory, the pot holes would be events or actions that have impacted or shaken our lives. Sometimes surprises, or sometimes not.
There is a sense of pleasure driving on a recently paved highway. It makes long drives easier and quieter. On the other hand, driving on a pot holed riddled road is no fun at all! Many are so busy they often fail to remember it is God’s grace that we walk through a life on a “well paved road.” But those pesky potholes can suddenly arrive and it is always God’s grace-and only His grace- that “paves the way” for us. But, as Jesus said:
John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (NASB)
When there is a sudden event in our lives that challenges our faith and tests us, we can choose to walk out our lives in a way pleasing to God or we can become bitter or angry. But God always makes a way for us and gives us His wonderful promises! In times of testing we must trust the Lord:
Psalm 121: 1-7: ¹ I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
² My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!
³He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
5The LORD himself watches over you!
The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The LORD keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.” (NIT)
Psalm 121 is such a wonderful blessing! We may face some difficult times but God assures us that He is there. God has also provided a light to guide our path:
Psalm 119: 105: Your word is a lamp to guide and a light for my path. (NIT)
Hitting a major pothole in life can generate questions such as Who is in charge here? or why doesn’t someone fix this road? When we experience such an event we have an answer for our “spiritual pothole” questions. That answer is Jesus!!
