Faith on the Frontstretch: Trouble on the Track
Welcome to Faith on the Frontstretch, an exclusive Skirts and Scuffs column where Beth Bence Reinke shares insights about racing and faith. “...and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1b
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| Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR |
In last Sunday’s race at Martinsville, drivers had all kinds of trouble. Kyle Busch had a runaway tire. Jamie McMurray lost his battery. Carl Edwards had a lugnut issue on pit road and went a lap down twice. Jeff Gordon made multiple pit stops to repair damage early on, with damaged brake ducts causing worry for the No. 24 team for most of the race. And Brian Vickers had trouble to spare ... or share.
A few drivers thought it was the most fun, exciting race in a long time. Others voiced their disgust over competitors using their cars as weapons. Whether you loved it or hated it, the race’s season-high 18 cautions led to 108 laps of running under the yellow flag. That means drivers were stuck behind the pace car for about one out of every five laps of the race. Talk about trouble on the track!
Just like short track racing, life is full of troubles, too. If we have a difficulty on only one out of five days, we’re pretty fortunate. Many are just nuisance things like getting a parking ticket or forgetting to wear your photo ID badge to work. Others are huge, like a job loss or a scary medical diagnosis. Sometimes relationships with family members or co-workers grow bumpy and we struggle with conflict every day.
What is your first response to trouble? Some people worry, agonizing over what to do next. Others get angry, wondering why life is so hard. Some slam on the brakes and give up, ignoring the problem. Others tackle the problem head on without really thinking it through.
When a driver has trouble on the track, he gets help right away. He tells his pit crew, “I have a vibration” or “I think a tire is going down.” Instead of wasting time worrying about it, he heads for pit road. Getting help from the guys that have the know-how and the right tools is a smart move. It’s a great strategy for us, too - asking for help pronto.
Turning to God right away and asking Him for help can be such a relief. When a problem sends me into a tailspin, it makes me feel so small. Thank goodness I don’t have to handle it on my own! I love that God has the wisdom for every situation and that He’s waiting for my distress call: “Dear God, I have some bad stuff going on and I need help. Please show me what to do.”
How is your life going today? Remember, you can turn to God at the first sign of trouble.
A few drivers thought it was the most fun, exciting race in a long time. Others voiced their disgust over competitors using their cars as weapons. Whether you loved it or hated it, the race’s season-high 18 cautions led to 108 laps of running under the yellow flag. That means drivers were stuck behind the pace car for about one out of every five laps of the race. Talk about trouble on the track!
Just like short track racing, life is full of troubles, too. If we have a difficulty on only one out of five days, we’re pretty fortunate. Many are just nuisance things like getting a parking ticket or forgetting to wear your photo ID badge to work. Others are huge, like a job loss or a scary medical diagnosis. Sometimes relationships with family members or co-workers grow bumpy and we struggle with conflict every day.
What is your first response to trouble? Some people worry, agonizing over what to do next. Others get angry, wondering why life is so hard. Some slam on the brakes and give up, ignoring the problem. Others tackle the problem head on without really thinking it through.
When a driver has trouble on the track, he gets help right away. He tells his pit crew, “I have a vibration” or “I think a tire is going down.” Instead of wasting time worrying about it, he heads for pit road. Getting help from the guys that have the know-how and the right tools is a smart move. It’s a great strategy for us, too - asking for help pronto.
Turning to God right away and asking Him for help can be such a relief. When a problem sends me into a tailspin, it makes me feel so small. Thank goodness I don’t have to handle it on my own! I love that God has the wisdom for every situation and that He’s waiting for my distress call: “Dear God, I have some bad stuff going on and I need help. Please show me what to do.”
How is your life going today? Remember, you can turn to God at the first sign of trouble.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ~ Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
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Want to read more racing devotions? When you donate $25 or more to Skirts and Scuffs, we’ll send you a complimentary copy of Beth’s book, Race Fans’ Devotions to Go. See you on the frontstretch!
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Want to read more racing devotions? When you donate $25 or more to Skirts and Scuffs, we’ll send you a complimentary copy of Beth’s book, Race Fans’ Devotions to Go. See you on the frontstretch!
Beth Bence Reinke is the author of Race Fans’ Devotions to Go, a devotional book geared toward female racing fans. Her column for Skirts and Scuffs is called “Faith on the Frontstretch” and explores the role of faith in motorsports. To read more of Beth’s posts, click on her name on the Skirts and Scuffs home page. Feel free to leave a comment on this post or reach her via twitter: @bbreinke.
Faith on the Frontstretch: Trouble on the Track
Reviewed by Beth Reinke
on
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Rating:
Reviewed by Beth Reinke
on
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Rating:
