Never Ending Bumps in the Road
Bumps in the road are commonplace – in fact sometimes they seem never ending. How we respond to these bumps along the way is vitally important. Listen to Carol talk about a bump in the road that she experienced.
Never Ending Bumps
Hard times, the tough events and circumstances of life plague each one of us at some point in our lives. Questions rumble around in our minds. Questions like, why? Why now? Or Why me? When we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel we question how long this can last or how we can possible make it through. Sometimes we see it as a result of something beyond our control or poor decisions we made prior. Yet, I know from experience, that often we are puzzled in the situation we find ourselves experiencing.
Sometimes my path in life looks like a never ending bumpy road. I climb to the top of one hill, hoping for a plateau only to be driven down into the valley, looking ahead at the steep incline of another hill. On a road trip the variance of heights, the curves, the changes in scenery make the trip more enjoyable than a long straight stretch of prairie road that goes on for mile. But in life, I often long for an easier path.
In the summer of 2016, my asthma flared up. Stress had been a huge factor as several family members needed extra care. I watched my father’s health decline which meant extra doctor visits, time spent with him because we did not know how long we would have that privilege. During this time our youngest daughter, who has some special needs, waited for surgery to repair an ankle that offered constant pain and decreased mobility. With the increase in pain and decrease in mobility came a loss of independence for her. She needed me to help her with more of her everyday needs.
My inhalers did not help and even my nebulizer seemed ineffective in counteracting the asthma. I wheezed, gasped for breath and coughed up phlegm until my ribs hurt. I needed to breathe. I had been booked to speak at four weeks of Bible camps. Why did it flare up now? Why didn’t the medications get it under control?
Insurmountable Bumps in the Road
The bumps in the road seemed huge and insurmountable. Looking back I see God’s hand in the situations I puzzled about.
The first week of camp I was supposed to speak at, the directors felt led to release me from speaking. God provided another speaker within a day or two. It turned out to be my father’s last week on earth and I got to spend many hours with him. What a blessing.
I was scheduled to leave for the second week of camp the day after my father passed away. On short notice a couple took my place. God had placed it on their heart to speak at camp. They thought it might be the next year but stepped in to speak right then.
I went to camp the next week, just days after dad’s funeral. I had peace about going but I had no breath and wondered how God would provide for me to speak all week. Would he heal the asthma or lessen the severity of the attacks? I spoke
Sunday night and no one realized I could hardly breathe except my husband and myself. The next morning the same thing happened, even though during the night my husband wondered if I would be able to get my next breath so often he didn’t know how I’d survive until morning. God provided enough breath to speak his message to the campers and staff.
That Monday afternoon I ended up in the emergency room of the local hospital for multiple nebulizer treatments and Prednisone. The doctor debated whether to give me a third treatment knowing how shaky I would feel after it. I told him I trusted God to give him wisdom about the right decision. He came back and gave me that third treatment and then sent me to pick up a prescription for more Prednisone. While I was at the emergency room, the main camp building caught fire. God kept me away from the smoke,
which in my weakened condition could have been fatal.
Safe From Fire
God kept everyone else at the camp safe as well. Only the one building burned. Camp was over for that week and the next but not the rest of the summer. A new building had been awaiting the occupancy permit which came in time for camp to resume once all the destroyed building had been cleaned up.
After a couple weeks off and a lot of medication and prayer, my asthma settled enough for me to speak at another camp for one week. I felt inadequate, broken and wondered how God could even use me yet He worked in amazing ways that week at camp in the lives of campers, staff and especially mine.
Why Does God Allow Bumps in the Road?
All fall I continued to struggle to get my breath and needed more steroids to help combat the asthma. I was forced to rest a lot and I wondered why God allowed all these bumps in the road, these seemingly incorrect puzzle pieces to be part of my life. Now I can look back and see God’s provisions at every step of the way.
I still do not understand the bumpy roads, the tough times in life when they show up, any more than you likely do, but I know that God is in control and I need to trust Him. He sees the big picture. This offers me hope, sometimes in little flickers and other times in a flood of light.
I pray that you too will find hope in the puzzling tough times of life, maybe by looking back at a tough time that you came through and see how God provided, kept you and taught lessons as well. Then continue to remember that God is always the same.
Never Ending Bumps in the Road
Carol Harrison
Listen to Carol’s program Puzzle Pieces Of Life.
Carol Harrison B.Ed is a speaker and published author with one book, Amee’s Story and stories in twelve anthologies. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and ability levels find their voice and reach their fullest potential. She knows, through personal experience that some of life’s experiences are tougher than others. She encourages people that even in the twists and turns of life God’s amazing grace provides hope. She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband Brian. They have four adult children and a dozen grandchildren. Visit her website carolscorner.ca
Images Courtesy Of:
Asthma Inhaler – Inspired Images
Mountaintop – StockSnap
Bumps in the Road – 12019
Paddles – davidraynisley
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