Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

The world can bring us down. Paul was falsely accused, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and confronted by an angry crowd. He faced his challenges by praising God and staying focused on following Him. We have all had our finances, health, work, and family life shipwrecked from time to time. When challenges come – sometimes I find it hard not to try and fix them but instead lean on Jesus. Focusing on the problem robs us of energy and an opportunity to connect with Jesus.

One day while driving I looked down at the dash and saw the dreaded check engine light. Every car owner knows it’s the one light that can be anything from a simple fix to a repair bill that threatens your child’s college fund. I drove to the dealership and pulled slowly into a service bay. I nervously waited for the verdict. It turned out the fix wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. The mechanic was also able to spot something else that was about to be a bigger problem. Thanks to the check engine light I got one problem solved and caught another. That little light got my attention!

Sometimes God uses little things to realign our focus on Him, like a spiritual check engine light that quietly guides us back on the path. While driving to a doctor’s appointment my mind started to wander into anxious areas. Out of nowhere an old pickup pulled out in front of me. Stopping suddenly to avoid hitting him, I couldn’t help but notice the large red spray-painted words, “Jesus Loves You,” on the tailgate. As the truck traveled slowly down the street - I found myself following him with tears filling my eyes. God used that old truck to get my attention! I had been so absorbed in the “what ifs” of life that day that I never acknowledged God.

Mitzie Avera