On my way to work about 3 weeks ago, I observed a cyclist go over a pothole in the road (yes, they’ve got some too). This wouldn’t have been anything special but it caught my attention when instead of holding on tight to his bicycle for more balance or control, he relaxed. And instead of pedaling faster, he stopped pedaling altogether and let the bicycle roll over the hole by itself.
The scientist in me realised that the cyclist did that to slow down – reducing momentum as the bike’s kinetic energy turned into potential energy and back again – limiting the impact of the shock on him and on his tires (let me know if my physics still checks out 😄). However, things got even more interesting when the Holy Spirit asked – “How long do you think it took the cyclist to know to do that in such situations?” “I don’t know, a long time?” I said. Then He says, “Faith is just like that.”
I guess, it was easier for me to understand what the Holy Spirit meant coz I was reading “Atomic Habits” when this happened (yeah, first time) and had been reminded of how actions that are done so many times can become habits planted in our subconscious – part of us (repetition makes permanent/practice makes perfect). In essence, God wanted me to know that HE knows that trusting him in hard times or when we come to potholes is really not easy. That the very notion of letting go and letting Him feels unnatural. BUT… it can become part of us with practice.
Just like someone learns to ride a bicycle and ride it so often that they know exactly what to do when they come on different surfaces or approach different junctures without even thinking it; we can learn to trust God so much that when something out of rhythm happens; something unexpected and unpleasant, we know to let go and let him carry us over smoothly.
This is not to say that we become zombies who don’t feel anything. Afterall, the cyclist’s ability to feel shock is not totally removed in my story. Apart from being able to feel a sense of harm, anticipate and let go; he still must have FELT the shock, albeit mild. So, this is not about turning off our emotions, it’s about trusting God so that we don’t go crazy and fall over. It is more about being together, in peace, not pieces (LOL).
Writing this, I asked Bing if “pothole” was a real word (you can never be too sure 😄) and after saying, yes, it went on to define it and I thought one of the definitions was really interesting. “Road Hazard: In everyday language, the word, pothole most commonly refers to a depression or hollow in a road surface caused by wear or subsidence.”
I had never seen the word “depression” used like that before. It inspired this conclusion:
“Letting go and letting God carry us over when we come on the potholes of life is the best way to prevent potholes in our own hearts”.
My family and I recently came on one of those potholes but by God’s grace, we are letting go and letting God carry us over. In many ways, God never promises us a challenge free life. Only that He has overcome and He’ll see us through them unharmed.
