You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. Psalm 145:16 (NIV)
Husband and I have never been car shopping together. He always picks out a car and then, invites me to approve. While he does not tell me it is a done deal, I have never objected. I leave car selection up to him. He knows what we need, what a good price is and whether the car runs well. This weekend, I learned why that is a good method for us and we should never ever shop for cars together. Last week, I totaled my car. I was coming home from dog school on the Skyway Bridge when a truck “lost” a large metal sign which fell into the roadway blocking both lanes. Traffic came to a dead stop from 65 miles an hour. I thought I was also going to be able to stop, but hit the car ahead of me at a slow speed. That car only had a small dent in the back. The entire front of my car was destroyed. I suppose I should be grateful no one was hurt and that the air bags did not deploy. But, I was very sad and upset to see my car towed away. After husband scoured the Internet for some prices in the amount that the insurance company offered us for my car, we headed out to see what we might find. “We” (he) had a list of requirements, an SUV made by General Motors with no sunroof, two wheel drive, and leather seats. Oh, and it had to match the tires that he had bought for my old car just four days before the accident. Yes, we were shopping for a car to match the tires we already owned. We drove up and down the main road in Pinellas County that is lined with car dealerships. The first car he showed me in our price range, I burst into tears. It was the ugliest, smelliest car I ever saw. Unfortunately, that was about as good as it got. And equally as unfortunate, I kept being drawn to the shiny, cute cars like an expensive black and red Mini Cooper or the neon green Volkswagen bug which just made my husband angry. We went home with our heads low and hearts bruised agreeing at least to wait until something became available at the car dealership where he works. It occurred to me that many of us shop for God like we shop for cars. We have specific requirements of Him, miracle working, power giving, peacemaking. Like my husband looking for a car to match our tires, God has to match our expectations before we settle on following Him. But, God was before time began. He created us, not the other way around. Though He is holy and perfect, He loves us flaws and all. He asks for us to come to Him with empty hands willing to love and be loved. You’ll find Him to be more than you expect or need. And you will be satisfied.
I'm sorry about your car… Shopping to match your tires, huh? That's pretty funny except the price of new tires is so high that it actually makes a weird king of sense to me.
The right car will turn up in due course. OR an alternative that turns out to be perfect.
(I don't want a mini, but I'd love a bug!)