Less than an hour into the trip. A clunk, thump! “What was that?”

“Ding…Ding…ding” Tire pressure light sounding.

Quickly my husband guides the van to the side of the road. As he opens the door “Sshhhh!” The sound of air rushing. “Oh no!” Immediately I fear our trip to see family is over.

The air rushing out of the tires matches the air deflating in my heart. “Why does this happen? Why do my plans get thrown out the window? Does God care? Does God see how much I need this time with family?”

My husband begins changing the tire. Flat off. Donut on.

On the road again we quickly realize we cannot travel hundreds of miles on the spare tire. We need to stop and fix or buy a new tire. From the time the tire blew until the time the new tire was on an hour and a half passed. 

Once traveling again with a new tire my heart eased. Everything was going to be okay. We were okay and we were still traveling to see family. 

In the end, we reached our destination only minutes from our original goal. We met our family with smiles and hugs and the weekend was special. 

Sometimes things don’t make sense. Sometimes we wonder why we get flat tires. Why the shoes are missing. Why the lights went out or why inconveniences happen all together. Sometimes we forgot that although we serve a perfect God we live in an imperfect world. While it seems life should be the Garden of Eden it is not. Life is not a Utopia. Life is a journey. Life is the ups and downs. Life is the joys and heartbreaks. Life is the relationships and connections. Life is the flat tires and the embraces from family. 

Yes. Flat tires are annoying, frustrating, discouraging. However, if the tire was never flat I would not have seen my husband handle the situation with grace. Likewise, seeing family might not have felt as sweet. 

We need flat tires in our lives. We need tires to remind us to let go and not hold on so tight. We need flat tires to help us see with a fresh perspective. To see through God’s goggles. 

Life is the valleys and the mountain tops. It’s okay. It’s okay to be right where God has you on your journey. Flat tire or not. He is with you. 

 

Psalm 139:7-10 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. NLT

John 1:16-17 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. NLT

Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. ESV

Romans 8:31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ESV