When Things Don't Go As Planned
It was one of those mornings. Our car was in the shop. The evening before, they called to let me know it was ready to be picked up. When they called, I asked, “Were there any other issues?” They promptly replied, “No,” and I went to pick it up the next morning, excited that we would have our car back. Twenty minutes later, as I neared home, I noticed a sound like driving over rumble strips on the side of the road, only there were no rumble strips so back to the repair shop I went.
It would have been easy for me to turn the drive back to the repair shop into a pity party, grow angry with them for not catching the problem and to get upset about the time I had lost.
Instead, I had to consciously choose to reframe the situation. Through this process I was able to praise God that:
The problem occurred immediately so it was not a mystery what the issue was.
It didn’t happen in the upcoming weeks as we traveled for different speaking engagements.
Family was loaning us a vehicle so we were not stranded.
The shop was ethical and told me to bring the car back in immediately for them to look at it.
As I processed this, I felt the tension reduce. I was able to arrive at the shop and talk with the manager in a way that was glorifying to God as opposed to my natural response in the situation.
While I was stressed about how the delay in schedule would impact the rest of my day, I didn’t carry the tension of anger, bitterness and resentment with me boiling under the surface, building up pressure until it exploded and later burned an innocent bystander.
This reframing is a difficult process, requires the help of the Holy Spirit and I have to take it moment by moment. In all truth, my success rate is not real high but God is gracious and it’s exciting to see growth…as incremental as it may be.
What do you have going on right now that you can reframe? Are you battling the school for services your child needs? Is there a therapy or service you want for your child, but can’t access because of the expense? Are you discouraged from constant caregiving? How would it impact you emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually if you were able to reframe that situation?
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
Written by Jonathan McGuire
Jonathan McGuire is the father of two sons and the co-founder of Hope Anew, a nonprofit that comes alongside the parents of children impacted by disability on a spiritual and emotional level. You can follow Hope Anew on Facebook here.