Dirty Windshields

 My car needs a bath. I noticed on the on my way to work the other day how distracting the windshield is. The dead bugs and the bird poop aren’t blocking my line of sight; they are blocking my view.  When I’m driving, I can’t help but continually notice the gunk.  Somewhere in my mind I recognize the blue sky and brilliant sunshine, but I keep coming back to the filthy windshield.  I think about taking the car through the car wash.  I’ve even considered giving my baby a thorough scrubbing in my driveway.  She’s still dirty.

I woke up the other morning with emotions left over from the night before.  I felt tired, grumpy, and discouraged.  The words I began to say to myself were like the dead bugs and the bird poop on my windshield.  I knew there was blue sky and sunshine; I knew God loved me and was in control.  I couldn’t get my thoughts to focus on the truth in front of me.  I was distracted by my mess of emotions.

Have you been there? 

•        A day doesn’t go as planned, and the frustration flows into the next day.
•     You hope someone will speak words of support after you share openly, instead you feel unnoticed.
•     You thought you would get more done over the weekend and Monday came too early.
•     You planned to say words of encouragement and understanding, but they sounded critical and unkind.
•     You put your best foot forward but never heard what you offered was appreciated or liked.

Sometimes we expect others to give us what only God can give.

I admit, on those dirty windshield days, I want my husband to come home and declare I’m taking you out for dinner!  I want him to show up with flowers and ice cream.  I want a surprise flash sale to pop up in my inbox from my favorite store.  I want one of my children to call me and say “You’re the best mom ever!  I love you!”  I want the house to magically clean itself and all the clean laundry to find its way to the closet.  I don’t want to deal with my emotions, admit I held on to what I should’ve let go hours before, and humble myself before God to confess my sin of selfishness and unbelief.

God reminded me after my dirty windshield morning of my word of the year, “and.” Two things can be true at the same time.  We can feel disappointed AND know that God still delights in us.  We can acknowledge our hurt AND find peace in God’s love for us.  We can admit we mishandled a circumstance AND know that God offers grace and forgiveness.

Isaiah 41:8-10 says, “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham, my friend – I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners.  I said to you: You are my servant; I have chosen you; I haven’t rejected you.  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”

I believe that promise is for us as well.  As followers of Jesus we are God’s servants, in fact we are His friends!  He has chosen us to be part of His royal family; He hasn’t rejected us.  He is with us, even on dirty windshield days.  He will strengthen us and help us to see beyond the dead bugs and the bird poop.  AND He will hold our hand the whole time.