I drive along the interstate, minding my own business, going along my merry way, and then it happens with a THUD: a bug “splotch” on my windshield. Before you know it, the windshield is covered with yellow, green, and brown bug-guts, making for a pretty mosaic, but it’s too hard to see where I’m going. Ugh! What to do? I turn on the wipers, and it gets fairly cleared up. I pull over to work some elbow grease on those particularly nasty spots. Once again, I’m back on the road, headed to my destination.
I find this is like life. I’m driving along, minding my own business, going along my merry way, and then it happens with a THUD: the bug splotch of an emergency, a phone call, a visit, a letter. It’s the next big thing or maybe just routine, the regular plodding along. It’s the arguments, instances of bad news, difficult seasons of sickness, bills to pay and getting the kids to school. It’s the grip of shame or guilt or a bad memory of a hard event in the past. All these splotches add up and before you know it, my life is covered with stress, anxieties, fears, doubts, depression, anger, confusion: the bug guts on my windshield, and I can’t see where I’m going. Ugh! What to do?
I apply the wipers of God’s Word, His many promises of hope and comfort in times of trouble. I remember how He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). He will supply my every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). God generously gives wisdom to me to deal with any situation (James 1:5) and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6). I can come to Him weary and burdened, and He will give me rest (Matthew 11:28). Even in those times when I get angry and question, “Why?”, He hears me and forgives my word against Him (Luke 12:10). For those particularly nasty spots that just won’t come off, I apply elbow grease and pray harder, grabbing on to Christ Himself, His blood shed for me. I am redeemed and forgiven for all my sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7). I am His adopted child (Ephesians 1:5) and according to the riches of his glory, He strengthens me with power through his Spirit and Christ lives in my heart through faith. No weapon formed against me will prosper, and He gives me the strength to know what is the breadth and length and height and depth of His love. He fills me with all the fullness of Himself (Ephesians 3:16-19). His promises are not empty and meaningless words, but valuable, sure, true, glorious, and powerful. I remember them, claim them, lean on them – they bring clarity and life. My windshield is much clearer now, and once again, I’m back on the road, headed to my destination.
I drive along the interstate, minding my own business, going along my merry way. Splotches of bug-guts will come, I’m never free of them, but God, His grace, His Word and promises, are sufficient to keep the windshield clean.