I Don't Speak "Car"

One thing in life that often makes me absolutely want to cry is when I have to deal with "car things."

When I think about a car, all I really care about is that it's cute, runs well, and can blast my favorite tunes. The only way I even know that I actually need to take the time to deal with "car things" is because I have little stickers on my windshield to alert me that something should be done. Other than that, I'm pretty much hopeless.

So when I go for an oil change, and the guy starts rambling off a list of the 27 things my car needs to have taken care of every so many miles, he has taken me to a place where I no longer feel comfortable. It's honestly like he's speaking a different language. And somehow, he expects me to understand. But I just don't. And to make matters worse, the list of 27 things he's suggesting is going to cost hundreds of dollars. But really all I wanted was to get my oil changed, because the sticker on my windshield told me it was time. And I'm just not interested in having my car catch on fire, or explode, or whatever disastrous thing will happen if I don't get my oil changed.

Here I am, then, with absolutely zero knowledge about cars, trying to make a wise decision about how to keep my vehicle running safely. And the guy is starting to get a little impatient with me, because he wants me to make a decision immediately. But then I feel pressured to decide more quickly, and I just don't do well when I feel rushed, so then I feel even more overwhelmed, which then actually slows my ability to make a decision promptly. So I start calling people to help me decide, because I'm definitely not very confident about my assessment of the situation. But inevitably, those people never answer when I need them. Typical. And then I ask the guy what he thinks, but he gives me the most unhelpful answer ever - that it's up to me. So then it's as I feared: it's just up to me. 

But I don't want it to be up to me. And I don't want to learn more about cars. And I most certainly don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on things my car may or may not really need. But I also don't want to blatantly ignore taking care of something important that, if neglected, could jeopardize the safety of my major mode of transportation. But I definitely  don't want to read my owner's manual. What I really want is for someone to love me enough to anticipate the things that my car will need and to take care of it for me, so I don't have to deal with the overwhelming pressure of trying to decipher this foreign language and to make decisions based on things that I don't understand. Unfortunately, that's not always an option. My step-dad likes to ask me about my car, and he's usually pretty attentive to the tires, but he's a few hours away, so there's no guarantee that he will be available to help when I need it. A boyfriend or husband would be more preferable, but hey, I'm still waiting for the right one. And of course there's no guarantee that he would be fluent in speaking "car" either or even that he would be able to answer my call when I need help. So at least for now, it is up to me. I get to be an adult and take care of "car things" on my own.

Just because I have to make decisions on my own, it still doesn't mean that I'm alone though.

Because even if I don't speak "car," and it's overwhelming for me to think about making major "car decisions," God is still with me the whole time. And I often forget that. The real issue isn't really about cars. It's about my heart. I get so caught up in thinking about who's not with me that I forget to stop and think about who is: the One true God who loves me more than words can adequately express. The most powerful being in the whole universe is standing with me, offering me His help. 

As usual, in the midst of my forgetfulness, I tend to run to other people instead of to the Lord. But I need to repent, remember Jesus, and run to Him - who would rather die than ever have me face anything all alone. And He's been there the whole time, just waiting for me to call upon Him, ready to come to my aid. The very psalm that Jesus quoted while He was on the cross confirms it (Mark 15:34, Psalm 22:1). As the Father forsook Jesus unto death to pay for our sins, He ensured that He would always answer the calls for help of those who trust in Him: "But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!" (Psalm 22:19). But I've been too busy calling other people, or even wishing I had someone else to call. And He's been loving me in the perfect way at the perfect time through it all. But I've been too preoccupied wishing someone else would show me love in the way I want to be loved. And the truth is that His ways are just better than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9).

So the next time I need to take care of some "car things," I want to remember that it's an opportunity not to just feel frustrated and overwhelmed, but to embrace the chance to draw closer to my Heavenly Husband. He's not overwhelmed or confused. He invented cars, so he knows how to speak "car" better than anyone. And He knows exactly what's going on with my car at every second and is attentive to it's needs and to my safety. He wants to protect me, care for me and guide me. And He wants me to know that He's with me - that I'm not alone (Isaiah 41:10).

So even though dealing with "car things" can be scary and overwhelming, 

Loving Him is Red.

I just couldn't resist this pic. It was too funny. Look at those flames...

Can anyone relate to me here? How have you found ways to keep your cool and cling to Jesus when dealing with "car things" or other adult responsibilities?