When the Air Goes Out - Martin Wiles

Series: The Truth about Trials

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. James 1:2 NLT

Psssss. The sound concerned us … and we investigated.

My wife and I were out for a day’s ride with a couple who were looking for a campsite. The husband had been in a wreck and had received a settlement for his injuries and lost time at work. With the money, they bought a small camper and a new truck to pull it with—a nice truck with all the bells and whistles.

As he turned into a campsite, he neared a jagged stump beside the entrance. I thought nothing of him hitting it. After all, we rode in a tough Dodge Ram with large tires. Sure enough, the back tire brushed the stump. The next sound we heard was air escaping.

The husband stopped, we all got out, and we watched as the tire deflated within thirty seconds. A piece of wood from the stump had punctured the side of the tire. We were flabbergasted—that a small piece of anything could tackle a tire such as this—and the husband was dejected.

 

Next came the task of figuring out how to lower the spare tire from beneath the truck … on a hot summer day. With all of us working together, we managed to get the tire changed. Within an hour, we were back on the road again. And we didn’t let the episode ruin our view of the campsite. We all eventually camped there.

I don’t remember this trial bringing joy to any of us, but there was a bright side. “At least, we had a spare,” the husband remarked. I carried his trying-to-look-on-the-bright side attitude one step farther: “At least, the spare had air in it.”

Trials promote fellowship (Acts 14:22). The four of us were already together, but we were together to a greater degree when we had to change the tire. All of us have ailments of one sort or another, so changing the monster tire took team effort.

When tough times hit, it’s comforting to have fellow believers to share with. People who will come alongside and give their presence, share their experiences, and help in various ways. The fellowship decreases the intensity of the trial, giving assurance that if others made it through then we can too.

Don’t isolate yourself when the tough times hit. This isn’t the time to show your toughness, but rather your dependence.

Prayer: Father, as You are there for us during life’s trials, so help us to be there for others.

Tweetable: Are your trials taking your breath away?

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Purpose Driven - Martin Wiles

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:13 NIV

“I’m in the middle of the road with a flat tire. Can you tell Dad to come and help me?”

My daughter was under the gun. She had given her landlord the notice she was moving out by the month’s end. Though she took a few days off from work, she hadn’t finished as much as she anticipated. On her last day off, as she rushed back and forth to the storage shed, a previously patched tire decided to leave her stranded in the middle of the highway—with three children in tow.

My wife and I hurried to her aid—not knowing whether we could help or not. We both suffer from back injuries and changing a tire isn’t what it used to be. I managed to loosen the lug nuts but couldn’t figure out how to remove the jack.

Frustrated, my daughter called a cousin who is a mechanic. Without effort, he removed the jack and changed the tire. When I commented on how easy he made the job look, he said, “Everyone has a purpose.” His was to help people who had mechanical issues with their vehicles.

Paul reminds me that God not only has a purpose but that He also works to fulfill His purpose in my life.

Discovering God’s purpose is essential for living the abundant life Jesus promises. God’s ultimate purpose is for everyone to know His Son as their Savior. He works to fulfill that purpose by sending His Spirit to convict people of their sins. He calls some into full-time mission work to take His message of love to those who haven’t heard. He calls others into full-time work to equip believers to do the same in their everyday worlds.

God wants us to know and experience His love, draw closer to Him, and then make His love known to the world. We were created to have a relationship with our Creator. We don’t have to be a career preacher or missionary to share God’s plan with others. Living out God’s love in my actions, attitudes, and words accomplishes His purpose. My cousin can do it as a mechanic. So can the attendant at the office store, the teller at the bank, and the CEO of a major organization. And so can you—wherever God places you.

Don’t wander through life wondering what your purpose is. Live a purpose-driven life now.

Prayer: Father, help us live with purpose by making Your love known through our daily experiences. 

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