Road Work

"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you."

I don't know about you, but lately, it seems that regardless of where I turn, there is - just as the sign above states - ROAD WORK EVERYWHERE!!  It seems that whether you are traveling a back road or a major highway, there are construction crews out - which ultimately, means traffic and delays.  I guess this is somewhat to be expected in New England.  There is a small window of opportunity that these crews have to work before the winter cold and elements come for their yearly visit.  

What does this have to do with Simple Faith?  I promise to make the connection.  The other day, I saw one of these signs on a side street and knew that around the corner, I could anticipate road crews directing traffic or detouring the travelers from a hazardous condition.  I might even come upon holes in the road that I might need to maneuver around.  I would have to be prepared for whatever was in front of me.  It made me think.  Don't we wish that we had signs like "road work ahead" in our daily lives that would help us from making hazardous decisions or from sinning against our Heavenly Father?  I know I wish I did.  It would be great to have signs that would help us divert a difficult situation.

I think about the "Road Work" of my life.  There have been many times that I wish I knew what was coming ahead of me - times when the road was going to be full of detours and potholes.  I wish I knew ahead that I was going to have cancer many years ago; I wish I knew ahead that my dear father was going to pass; I wish I knew ahead . . . .   There are many times that I wish I had a warning like "road work ahead" to better prepare myself for what was coming.  Yet, I didn't have those signs (or at least, I wasn't looking for them).  

Although I might not have seen a sign in those events, I was prepared.  I had God on my side.  He was there with me as my passenger in those times.  He was directing me, guiding me, supporting me, so that I knew I would come out on the other side of the road - safe and in His arms.  I can't imagine what my life would have been like without God in those situations.  I am just so very grateful every day that he was there.  To say I have been blessed is truly an understatement.  Like our verse states, nothing is too hard for God.

What about other events in our lives when we wish we had the warning signs of "road work" ahead?  Maybe we made more choices, maybe our words or actions were not in line with God.  In those events we do have this type of sign - it's the Bible.  God's word helps us to know what types of situations in our lives may be considered hazardous.  When my life doesn't line up with God's word, I'm usually headed for a difficult situation.  These difficult situations may be in my words or actions, or putting myself into a path/journey that God wouldn't want to me to be on, or may even take me away from Him altogether.  These are not places I want to be.  When I am away from God's word, it usually means I am headed for an accident of some sort!

I encourage you this week to pick up your Bibles - read just one verse if this is something you don't typically do.  Do you have a Bible app for your phone?  There are some great free ones and they provide a daily Bible verse.  I know that when I read mine first thing in the morning, my day is focused on He who can provide warning signs to me.  And if I don't read the sign, I know He is there to guide me when I'm lost.

"Heavenly Father, thank you for the warning signs in our lives.  Whether it is 'road work' or a verse that guides us to make better decisions, we know that you are always with us with an outstretched arm.  How blessed we are that you care for each of us in the details of our lives.  May the week ahead help us to be guided by your word, your grace, and your love."