Waiting for Things to Get Better
By Chris Rathbone
Mitchell County
Have you ever heard someone say, “Seems like everything has gone wrong lately in my life”? Then they begin to tell you of all the things that have happened, one right after the other, and they can’t seem to catch a break. Well, it seems like that is what has happened around my household!
About a month ago, I went up to Roan Mountain for a hike. After the early morning hike, I got into my truck and headed back down the mountain towards Bakersville. Just a little way down something happened in my truck engine. The check engine light came on and it was quite obvious that the engine was missing really bad. After doing some research the problem was narrowed down to something that was going to cost close to $2000. Well, the truck is in pretty good shape with just over 100,000 miles so I concluded it would be worth the investment to have it fixed, especially after pricing a new truck! The mechanic gave me a day to bring the truck into the shop for the needed repairs. While there it was discovered the truck needed a steering column also to take care of the play in the steering. After bringing the truck home it started missing again. Also, the shipping on the steering column part was delayed for almost 2 weeks. Back to the shop again. Finally seemed to get everything going after being without my vehicle for about 2 weeks and sure enough, the truck is missing again. After some more research, it has nothing to do with what has already been repaired, UGH! So right now I’m waiting for the part to come to hopefully replace it myself!
However, that’s not all! There are 4 drivers in my family. Each one has work or school each day and everyone of course requires transportation. My oldest son’s truck also needed a repair while mine was in the shop. We were down 2 vehicles which made it interesting getting everyone where they needed to be. His was repaired only to bring it home and guess what, it wouldn’t start the next morning because of a completely different problem from what had already been repaired. So the next day I head to the parts store for an alternator and battery. Thankfully it was a job I could do myself.
Just so you don’t get bored with all my silly vehicle problems I’ll condense this story a little. My truck still needs to be fixed when the part arrives, hopefully, tomorrow. My son’s truck has got to have shocks and brake work, my wife’s car is making a loud clicking noise under the dash, something to do with the heat and air plus something is leaking underneath, another one apparently is needing axle work in the front end……..etc, etc, etc. All our vehicles have way over 100,000 miles and 2 of them have over 220,000. Repairs are inevitable with these kinds of vehicles but it seems to have all happened at one time! Whew! When is it gonna let up? Well, I’m through whining now…
For sure, car troubles pale in comparison to the things this old life may throw at us sometimes. There are times and chapters in this life we may go through where one thing after another comes in succession and there seems to be no end in sight. We will tend to feel doubt, to lose heart, to even come to the point of giving up or throwing in the towel, so to speak. Michelle has had to remind me several times during the last month amidst all my vehicle frustrations that this too will pass and we’ll get them all fixed. (I think she gets tired of my whining!) We must remember when we are going through these chapters in life, we will, with the help of the Lord, make it through. Things may be different when we come out on the other side, but we will get through them. Jesus is faithful, He never leaves us nor forsakes us, and He is a Savior who understands our struggles, heartaches, and frustrations. He knows when we come to our wit’s end and get tired of the struggles. That’s when we have to trust Him and Him alone. Maybe that was the point the entire time, that we would get to the end of ourselves and trust totally in Him. After all children, isn’t that what we are supposed to be doing anyway while we are waiting for things to get better?
Preacher Chris
Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer: my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
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Preacher Chris Rathbone serves as Pastor at Mine Creek Baptist Church.
You can read more Good Christian News from Pastor Chris HERE.
You can connect with Preacher Chris on Facebook HERE.
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