When the Wheels Fall Off

A few nights ago at dinner we were recalling favorite vacation memories. At some point, the conversation shifted to include various travel calamities we’ve experienced over the years. After one particular Thanksgiving in Michigan, we rented a small U-Haul trailer to bring some furniture and art back to Colorado. We carefully loaded the trailer, said tearful goodbyes to our Michigan family, and headed out on the open road. It was a beautiful day for a road trip. The sun was shining, the music was playing, the kids were freshly-stocked with snacks from Grams’ pantry. And we had a trailer full of treasures to unpack once we got home.

We were not yet out of Michigan when our truck jerked sharply and we saw sparks in the rearview mirror. Maren shouted from the backseat, “I see our tire bouncing across the road! What is happening?!?!” (Her flair for the dramatic was on grand display throughout this entire scenario.) We pulled off to the side of the road only to discover the wheel had broken off the axel on the trailer. The entire wheel…gone. And there we sat on the side of the road on Thanksgiving weekend with a trailer full of furniture and a car full of kids in hysterics who suddenly all had to go to the bathroom immediately. We laugh now, but at the time it was less than pleasant.

Once Brett and I had regained composure (Brett absolutely did a better job at this, I’m sure), we calmed the kids, and claimed the moment as an opportunity to ask God for some extra peace and help. We prayed for our safety (and thanked him for the safety we’d had when the wheel fell off!), for another trailer to be available, and for some better attitudes. Then I called my dad while Brett called U-Haul. My dad was driving my brother back to his place in Chicago, and they were about an hour behind us on the road. They agreed to meet us to help re-pack our second trailer. And Brett learned of ONE SINGLE available trailer in the entire area, that happened to be located about 20 minutes back. The kids cheered! We praised Jesus! And then we unloaded and repacked an entire trailer in a little parking lot somewhere in the southwest corner of Michigan.

This is a silly little story, but it reminded me of how God meets our needs, even when we don’t know what they will be. What an extension of grace! We were so glad to have a breakdown where we did, near another available trailer, and on a stretch of highway also being traveled by my dad and brother. I do understand that things don’t always end up so tidily resolved, but even in more complex situations with more heartache and loss, God is still present, and he still extends grace.

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 9:8. My aunt sent me an email earlier in the week with a reminder of the same verse.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency, in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

God’s grace is abounding in ALL things at ALL times. It covers broken wheels, immediate needs, sickness, hurting relationships, fears, loss, heartache, anxiety, uncertainties of all kinds, pandemics, stay-home orders, canceled plans, loneliness. He offers his grace so we may abound in good works…bringing him honor and glory regardless of our circumstances. My prayer for you today, friends, is for you to rest in God’s perfect grace, offered in perfect measure for what you need this day.

Warmly,

Kate