Trials

My car is sick. It all started with an air conditioning problem a few months ago (a VERY important accessory during a Louisiana summer). The AC quickly went from working 80% of the time to 20% of the time, and since this car is our main mode of transportation (less of a gas-guzzler than the SUV), we desperately needed to get her fixed. So we took her in to the mechanic to get a diagnosis and an estimate of the repair cost. As you can imagine, after hearing the 4-digit figure, I literally cried my way home. But at this point, it’s cheaper than buying a new car. So after much consideration, we finally made the decision to go ahead and get her fixed despite the high price tag. Well, while the mechanic waited on the parts to come in, Kevin took her home to get him around town for a few days. We were gone for the weekend so she wasn’t touched until yesterday when Kevin took her out to run a few errands. I got a phone call from him while he was out and the first words out of his mouth were, “Are you sitting down?” Now, we all know that this is never a good sign! I quickly found a chair, knowing for certain that bad news was impending. He proceeded to tell me that the car had stopped on him, not once but TWICE while he was driving on the interstate! He even had to get someone to push him home! I was speechless. All I could hear was the ringing of the cash register in my head as it added up all the new costs associated with a now DEAD car! It’s hard to process why God would allow this to happen at this time, but I have to trust that it is for a reason and that He will provide. So I'm clinging to James 1:2-3 today, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."