Life’s Speed Bumps

During my recent staycation I ran 6 days straight totaling 30 miles.   It felt great having the ability and endurance to accomplish that and enjoy it in the process.  The goal was to take the 2 following days to rest and get back out on the road Friday.  My body had other unexpected plans.  Friday morning I awoke at 2 am with my throat screaming like a hot alarm.  Where did that come from?  I’ve spent the last 2 days in throat agony.  It feels like I have a burning speed bump stopping any comfortable eating,  drinking and just the natural swallowing process.

Let the pity part begin, right?  Well that is me when I get sick.  Then you hear about tragic stories like a co-worker’s husband who is fighting cancer, or a father who falls to his death at a baseball game or of a child who is killed by someone they loved and trusted.  It is then that you realize how minor a sore throat truly is. Yes it’s a discomfort.  Yes it may be an interference, but in the scheme of things it is just a minor bump. 

Life is hard.  We will be tested and we will face trials.  God does not promise it will all be easy, but He does promise all things work together for good (Romans 8:28-29) and that His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. – 1 Peter 1:7

I am grateful for that promise.  I am also grateful that my wake up call this time was just a sore throat.  Sometimes we can become self focused neglecting the love and truth that surrounds us and of which we should be sharing with others.  I believe that life’s speed bumps, whether big or small, are our friendly reminders to stay the course and plan that God has laid out before us.