Uh Oh!

"Uh-oh!" I turned the key in the ignition, but the Jeep wouldn't start. Dead battery!  I grumbled. Such timing. I'd miss an appointment.   

By the end of the day, that wasn't the only "Uh-oh." I put leftovers in the microwave and pressed "Start," but nothing happened. Great. Broken microwave.
  
To top that off, the following day the dryer quit: the drum was spinning, but there was no heat. I dragged the heavy basket of wet clothing to the garage, and found a way to create a makeshift clothesline. 

All the "Uh Oh's" were broken things. At least they can be fixed, I thought. Despite grumbling, I had answers for dealing with these inconveniences.  

But what happens when the "Uh-ohs" are not just things that are broken, but instead are part of the ourselves that feel broken? Throughout our lives, we experience losses, both big and small. Some  things break us down or cause us to feel sad, vulnerable, or alone. Like a dead battery, there is no good time to feel broken.     

But there is a way to look at our circumstances in a different light. For example, take the word, "Uh-oh." Now let's take it apart. The "Uh" is the part of the phrase where we realize something has changed, is out-of-place, or different than it was. The "Oh!" is when we discover the answer or a way to fix the problem—it is the remedy.    

The question of "What shall we do?" has been a common denominator for God's people throughout the ages. The remedy for personal brokenness is not easy or simple; however, answers can be found—through the eyes of faith and the assurance of God's promises. A few verses follow as examples for comfort and help:   

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings." - Hebrews 10:22
 
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." - John 5:24

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Whenever you have an "Uh-oh" moment, whether big or small, may you smoothly ride the waters of uncertainty and find the "Oh!"—the answer, the remedy for which you are searching.

​(And may the inconvenience of a dead car battery or broken appliance feel like a mere small setback in the big scheme of things!)  
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Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com

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