Eternal Perspectives: Avoiding the Bumpy Roads of Life

We all face them. The bumpy roads regarding our health and well-being can—and do—affect our bodies, emotions, and relationships. God has much to say about how to best deal with them.

Eternal Perspectives by Sally Bair

Bumpy roads

The Alaska-Canada (Alcan) highway that runs 1,671 miles through parts of British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and Alaska is noted for its bumps. Built quickly in 1942 as a WWII effort after the Japanese invaded one of the Aleutian Islands, the Alcan follows rivers, winds through swamps, and cuts through huge mountains. At first a narrow, precarious road of gravel, the famed highway since has been paved. But due to harsh winters, frost bumps keep emerging in many places for mile after mile without respite. Every year it must be repaired in spots—widened, filled in, or just plain fixed. Traveling the Alcan can be a challenge to the head, stomach, and nerves. My family and I became miserable and frustrated from the many slow hours traveling over a particularly bumpy, long stretch of road. But we discovered our slower pace meant seeing more wildlife. We saw many more elk, caribou, moose, bears, red fox, coyotes, and bald eagles than we would have at our previous, higher speed.

The road bumps of life can challenge us, too, in the same way as headaches, stomach aches, or fear and anxiety. Some are big bumps. Others are little ones that keep resurfacing, like driving through rush hour traffic every day. The little bumps shorten tempers and cause ulcers.

Paul suggests a great way to avoid our life bumps. “In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Jesus also gives us a good answer for our anxieties. “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life … But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25-34 in part)

Lord, forgive us when we let the bumps in our lives cause us to react too quickly. Show us how to deal with each bump as it comes so we can enjoy You and Your gifts amid the bumpy roads of life. In Jesus' name, amen.