Potholes

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

It happened one evening driving home on an unlit road after a rainy day; the car suddenly thudded downward and then upward. Inspection of the vehicle confirmed the tire and rim were beyond repair.

Sometimes camouflaged, sometimes lurking in the darkness or obscure places, sometimes disguised as light reflections, they are there—potholes. Like literal potholes, life potholes can take us off guard at any given moment to disrupt and derail our lives, even shake our trust in God. Whether it be a hole in the road hidden by a pool of water or blatant obstacles in plain sight that defy us, they exist and can be destructive.

Peter urges us to be clear-minded, always on guard and watchful, assuming the enemy of our soul, the devil, is plotting evil schemes against us. His warning is not for us to live fearfully—paranoid, but always on the alert. Believers must stay watchful, standing firm against the enemy, strong in our faith, trusting the Lord our God is mightier than he.

So, what should we do if taken surprise by a pothole or have stubbornly stepped into one in plain sight? We humbly go before God and trust Him with our concerns, worries, failures, and wounds because He cares for us. Regardless of our circumstances, there is nothing, absolutely nothing that blindsides God. He controls all that life throws (or we toss) our way. He is Almighty God, the keeper of our souls.