How a Screw and a Flat Tire Reminded Me of the Goodness of God

"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

~Psalm 27:13, New International Version

Last Wednesday, on the way back from an early morning physical therapy appointment, I heard what sounded like a tire popping. I catastrophized and thought my car might collapse to the ground, and strand me, but it didn't. So I drove to work and worked out my day. As I went to get in the car (with a kid) to go home, however, a work van waved me down and said, "Do you know your tire is flat?"

I was like, "No."

"Do you have a spare?" They asked.

"Yes," I said and started moving stuff around in my trunk to get at the spare. I got out the spare and the two men changed my tire in under ten minutes. I took the kid home, took myself home, and got Dad to help me make a plan for fixing my tire before I drove to the airport early Saturday morning.

I'd had a pretty overwhelming day that day, but this incident reminded me that life could be worse. I could have gotten stuck on the side of the road between physical therapy and Prescott. I could have tried to drive on my flat tire and damaged the tire rim or my car. I could have had to wait for Dad to come change my tire at work. 

But God in his providence provided two nice men to drive into the work parking lot at just the right time. I knew they were safe because they were in a work van. They were willing to change my tire and didn't ask for compensation. I have reason to believe that God orchestrated this series of events, too, because I said something to the men about the fact that I don't believe in coincidence. The one man replied, "He makes everything happen for a reason." Yes He does!

God is good and there are still good people in the world. "I [do] see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Ps 27:13).

None Like the Lord

In a world that idolizes so many things; in a world where we look to fame, food, love, money, pride, etc. to fill us, it is good to remember that there is None Like the Lord. Only He meets our needs. Only He hears and answers our prayers. Only He truly satisfies. He is worthy of our praise.

Psalm 40:5
Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 86:8
Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.

Isaiah 45:6
From the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:21
Declare what is to be, present it— let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

Isaiah 46:9
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.