Not Road Construction?!

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

This week, the city decided this was the right time to fix our crumbling street. We had to park on neighboring streets unless we were lucky enough to get a spot in Ashby Park’s lot. The process was loud, and the blacktop smell was strong. Yet, there were funny moments in the frustration. When they started demolition, I approached a worker about when we needed to leave our garage. Soon, the worker, in his thick Eastern European accent, was teasing me that walking to and from the car would be good exercise and cheaper than a gym membership. Now, we have a brand-new road without a single pothole!

Sometimes, inconveniences and downright tough times can end up being a blessing. Sure, we had to figure out how to get groceries down the street, but now we have a good-looking, smooth road that will last for years. Even in the mess, there were special blessings. We visited our neighbors more because we were all forced to walk. Plus, it was fun to watch the workers and plot their progress.

I learned from the road construction burden that when you relax and look beyond the frustration, you witness blessings. Change in daily routine helps us see the world differently and shakes up our mental autopilot. The next time you face a surprising situation, try playing a little game. Challenge yourself to find something fun or exciting amid the chaos. Trust God to provide unique moments. The Spirit will weave little blessings, allowing you to endure the challenge and enjoy aspects of the problematic situation. When you invite God into the mess, good moments follow.