Potholes of life
This week drivers were stranded for hours when a ‘pothole of doom’ caused chaos on the A303 slip road towards the M3 with at least 14 cars bursting their tyres after hitting it. On a different road I was driving home and suddenly thump! The car rattled, a tyre burst and I gingerly drove to a nearby Kwik Fit.
Potholes have a way of appearing when we least expect them. One moment the road seems smooth, and the next we’re jolted by something hidden beneath the surface. Life can feel the same way. Just when things seem smooth, something unexpected hits – a problem, a disappointment, a difficult situation to deal with.
Jesus was honest about this. He said, ‘In this world you will have trouble.’ (John 16:33 NIVUK). Jesus never promised a pothole-free journey, but he did go on to say, ‘But take heart! I have overcome the world’ (v.33). That means we’re not navigating these rough spots alone. Jesus promises that he will be present with us through every rough patch.
Sometimes life’s figurative potholes slow us down for a reason: they make us pay attention, adjust our path, or rely more on God instead of our own plans. Even when the road feels damaged, God is still there guiding us forward.
So, the next time life jolts you – take a breath – invite God into that moment, ask what he might be teaching you, and trust that he can use even the potholes of life to lead you somewhere good.
In Christian love,
Barry Robinson
About the Writer:
Barry Robinson is the Deputy National Ministry Leader for GCI in the UK & Ireland