When the Roaring Gets Too Loud

For those of you who know me well, you know how rare it is for me to have a clean car. Well, Saturday, I not only had a clean car on the inside, but I also drove it through the car wash. I was so proud of myself. As I pulled out of the car  wash, reveling in my victorious state, my car made a “ding” sound. The check engine light blinked on and I realized my engine was running hot.

I called David and went by an auto store. I finally learned that the fan clutch in my motor wasn’t functioning properly. As long as I was running down the road with minimal stops, my engine would stay cooled down, but as soon as I began slowing down or idling, then my engine started running hot. David ordered the part, but in the meantime he “rigged” the clutch on my fan. Here’s what he told me, “The clutch is engaged all the time and it’s going to sound like your hood is about to blow off when you’re driving down the road…but it won’t. I promise.”– That’s Comforting.

I’m sure glad it was not going to blow off, because it sure did sound like it’s going to today! The roaring was so loud that David heard me coming down the road before he could even see me! The clutch being engaged works as a temporary fix, but as for a long term solution, the roaring would be too unbearable.

I thought about how often I am just like my car. I work hard at keeping the inside and outside clean. I pour my life into important people and special areas, but sometimes something just quits working right. Maybe my family or I get sick. Maybe I hurt myself physically by overextending a muscle or something of the sorts. Maybe I’m not managing my time wisely and sleep is running a little low. Maybe I’m worried and burdened for others and I’m trying to carry it alone without the help of God. Maybe I’m pushing too hard and I’ve overextended myself. Maybe I said yes to a bunch of stuff I should have said no to. Maybe…and just fill in the blank.

And just like the temporary fix that was applied to my fan clutch, we try and apply temporary fixes to the areas in our lives that aren’t working right. When we are exhausted, we tell ourselves that we just need one day of rest and we will be okay. When everyone is sick, we hope for even one of them to improve, if ever so slightly. When we are sore or hurting physically, we apply some muscle cream and hope for minimal pain, but we still go about our normal day. But no matter how great the temporary solution is, the roaring is still too loud. Maybe the temporary fix has become so commonplace that we don’t even hear the roaring anymore; but trust me, everyone else hears us before we are even around the bend in the road. What we don’t realize is that our temporary fix might get us through for a little while, but eventually, it starts affecting everyone else around us, too.

The only answer is to get it fixed. Whatever is broken or has stopped working properly can’t just be patched; that’s why God has instructed us in 1 Peter 5:7 ” Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Or in Matthew 11:29-30, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

We aren’t meant to put man-made fixes on God-sized problems. He is our source of strength. He will help carry the load. When the roaring gets too loud, ask yourself, “Have I given this a temporary fix? Or have I taken it to God for his ultimate solution?”