Check Engine Light

I am sitting at home waiting until it is time to take my car to the mechanic. Yesterday the dreaded check engine light appeared. My car was serviced on Feb. 11 for an oil change and inspection so that light turning on was not a welcome sight.

I am quick to want to have it checked. I don't want to break down on the road.

It made me ponder how quick I am with other check engine lights in my life. Am I swift to respond to them?

We know we need to care for all areas of our lives to keep balanced.

Spiritual – Reading God's Word, praying, attending church, praising God

Family – Keeping open communication, forgiving, sharing time, loving

Emotional – Spending time with friends, reading uplifting books, having the ability to laugh with others and laugh at ourselves, knowing our purpose and setting ourselves on the path towards it

Health – Eating right, exercising, getting regular check-ups, proper sleep

Finances – Proper stewardship of what we have, not overspending, sharing what we do have, giving to the kingdom of God

This is not an exhaustive list, just a few things to get you thinking.

Is your engine fine-tuned?

Have you been ignoring the check engine light in any of these areas?

Overwhelmed

Overwhelm: Swamp, submerge, engulf, bury, deluge, flood, inundate, overcome.


Listen to people and their stories: Long term illness, divorce, financial devastation, cancer, job loss, loss of homes, death. It’s overwhelming to our emotions.

Today I came to the realization that this is where I am at.

When overwhelmed I withdraw. I withdraw from seeing people and speaking to them on the phone. If I keep myself from being around people I won’t hear their story and it won’t be added to the overwhelming weight I already feel.

Why do I feel the weight of other’s problems? Because God has put a love in my heart for people. When they hurt, I hurt. I want to remove that hurt and I can’t, I wasn’t made to, that is God’s job. But that doesn’t stop the ache in my heart.

I feel helpless when all I can offer are a few words; however, I may be overlooking a very powerful tool. Maybe at the moment I am in their presence a few words, given by the Holy Spirit through me, is all they need to get through another burdensome day. So if I am withdrawing from contact with people am I adding to their burden? Maybe, if God intended to use me in their life that day.

Does this possibility cause me to desire to run out and find people? No. I want to protect my heart. It’s selfish I know. Forgive me for this but at times my heart feels like it is hemorrhaging. I could blame God for this pain, He made me this way but He knew what He was doing when He gave me a soft heart.
Psalm 33:12-15 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.

For all my family, friends, and those I have never met, who are going through sorrows my heart cries for you. I desire you to be at the end of your trial, I long for you to have the victory that you are battling for, I cry out for you to have wholeness.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

Only “for a Little While.”

Photo: MorgueFile